When Simon turns four, his birthday party is the biggest and most exciting event in his little life. He wakes early and wriggles out of bed to find Daddy and Papa. Only Papa is still in bed.

“Papa,” he whispers loudly as he climbs into his parents’ bigger bed. “Papa, wake up.”

There is no response from his Papa, except a snort and more sleeping. Simon pouts. Where is Daddy? Daddy would help him wake Papa. He goes to knock on the bathroom door and smiles when his Daddy opens it from the other side. 

Simon raises his arms to be carried. “Daddy,” he pouts. “Papa is still sleeping.”

“Hm,” Johnathan says. “Papa is sleepy.”

“But I’m not sleepy,” Simon sighs. 

Johnathan kisses his toddler’s forehead. “You are not sleepy,” he agrees. “You are Simon.”

With a giggle, Simon presses his face into Johnathan’s shoulder. Johnathan cuddles his baby. “Let Papa sleep some more. You can help me get ready for your party and we can surprise Papa when he wakes up.”

“Okay,” Simon says. “Breakfast first.” 

“Yes,” Johnathan agrees. Simon is such a bright child. He lets Johnathan carry him to their kitchen to feed him. And then Johnathan sticks streamers on the walls with Simon’s help as an extension from his arms. There is a lot of giggling and wall-slapping.

When Will emerges with a big yawn, Simon latches himself to his leg. “Papa!” he cries. Will picks him up. 

“What’s this?” he asks. “You started without me?”

“Papa did not wake up,” Simon says accusingly. 

“Ah,” Will laughs. “Papa is sleepy. He spent all night getting Simon birthday presents!”

Simon goes wide-eyed. “Presents?” he asks hopefully. 

“Later,” Johnathan diverts, sending a look at Will for almost revealing their plans. 

“Daddy says later, my little bunny.” Will sets him down. “Don’t you want to wait for your Auntie and Uncles? There will be more presents later! Why don’t you get your toys, Cousin Lenny is coming too.” 

“Yay!” Simon cheers. Mollified, he wanders off to gather his toys. Will reels Johnathan in for a kiss when Simon disappears into his room.

Truthfully, Johnathan and Will had already acquired Simon’s gifts. But Simon was notorious for asking for siblings. And they had been up all night getting Simon’s other present. In a sense. It would at least count as a valiant attempt if nothing happened.

Henry is the first to arrive. This time bearing appropriate gifts for Simon’s age, but still a sack too many. Johnathan has given up entirely on attempting to stop his brother from spoiling his son. He and Will simply ration the toys or regift the extras. They’ve saved quite a bit on children’s toys.

“Brother,” Johnathan greets and steps aside to let his brother and his sack of toys in. He eyes the bag.

“Johnathan,” Henry smiles. “Where is the birthday boy?”

“The bag, brother.” Johnathan holds out an expectant hand. 

“It’s only a few toys,” Henry says, clutching the bag tightly. 

Johnathan is not amused. “Simon cannot have too many toys. He won’t know what to do with them.”

“You should let him decide,” Henry tells him with a strained smile. Johnathan also feels very strained. 

“I will call Will,” he threatens. And Henry blanches. 

“Fine.” He hands the bag over to Johnathan. Will had mandated that Simon not be allowed more than two items per person when an overabundance of toys in the last birthday had led to many toy-related fights. Amongst the adults. Simon had too many relatives to spoil him, and the two-toy limit hardly limited the adults who simply got more and more extravagant at gift-giving. 

Will had jokingly suggested a toy auction and had been met with a wave of outrage from everyone in earshot. It was…terrifying. They now secretly donated all those Simon had no interest in, to orphanages and kindergartens. 

Simon, their sweet baby boy, hadn’t even minded. He was very generous and willing to share with anyone who wanted to play with him. Will said they needed to hurry up and give Simon a sibling soon. A plan that Johnathan was in full favour of.

Lily arrives with Charlie in tow. Will greets them very excitably and pulls them into the apartment. They have provided one sensible gift between the two of them. Johnathan does not need to fret.

Charlotte and Peter, looking a little harried, show up with Lenny soon after. Lenny rushes off to find Simon immediately.

“He rushed us all the way because he missed Simon,” Charlotte tells him with a tired smile. Johnathan welcomes them in after checking that they have not exceeded the two-toy limit. They have not. But their presents are decidedly expensive for a child with no concept of money and value beyond what entertains him the most. Johnathan is just grateful that Simon has so many people who love him.

Callum and Uncle Quentin show up at the same time. Johnathan readies himself. No one in this family understands minimalism when it came to Simon. Not even his uncle who had been pretty adamant about minimalism while he and Henry were growing up. Apparently, it didn’t apply to grandnephews. Johnathan blocks the door and stares very pointedly at them.

Uncle Quentin grumbles under his breath but picks the two gifts he thinks Simon will benefit from the most. His uncle’s presents are often manuals or instruments he believes Johnathan’s son should study. They are not often appropriate for Simon’s age, but Johnathan and Will have agreed to store them aside until their son is old enough to choose. 

Will’s brother gets through with minimal fuss. But only because he comes with cake and one present. Callum is not the best at picking children’s favourite toys, but at four, sweets often seem more important. Much to everyone else’s consternation, Callum is the children’s favourite adult outside of their parents at the moment.

The Huas arrive fashionably late because Yulang had to get ready. With him is Hua Shang, Henry’s childhood friend and Johnathan's honorary older brother in all but name. They are allowed in because Henry texted Shang of Johnathan’s gatekeeping and they accordingly met the present limit. Johnathan narrows his eyes at Yulang’s shifty eyes though. He will have to rely on Will to sniff out the extras.

Their home is very loud and noisy with so many people congregated inside. And they are all loved ones, so Johnathan smiles when he sees them mingling. Will sends a sunny smile his way when he sees Johnathan watching them from the corner of the room. He beckons and Johnathan goes over.

“John, having fun?” he asks.

“Yes,” says Johnathan. He is. They are with family who have come to celebrate the fourth year of their little boy’s life. It is Simon’s party, but Johnathan feels blessed. 

Will answers the door when Uncle Felix and Aunt Zaria arrive. There is a tense moment when Will almost has to bar them from entering.

“Uncle Felix, Aunt Zaria,” Will says evenly. The room full of people hush. 

“William,” Aunt Zaria returns coolly.

Will crosses his arms and doesn’t budge. “You know the rules.”

“You think you can tell me what to do?” she asks with a raised brow.

Of everyone present, it is Uncle Felix and Aunt Zaria who are most vicious on such occasions. Even worse than Henry. Johnathan recalls the last time they wheeled in a cartload and the excuse that they can’t forget anyone while abroad. And that’s at least one item from every country they visit. Uncle Quentin had almost fainted.

“Then pick two for today,” Will tells them, unmoved. He is very attractive when he is being stern. Johnathan allows himself to enjoy the spectacle.

They are interrupted by two yelling children who push past Will’s legs and grab onto their grandparents’. 

“Grandpa! Grandma!” Simon cries as he clings onto Aunt Zaria’s leg and sets his chin on her knee to smile up at her. Lenny tugs on her skirt to be carried. 

Sufficiently distracted, Uncle Felix slips Will two items and hides the rest away while Aunt Zaria is busy addressing her grandchildren. She picks both of them and looks unimpressed when Will lets Uncle Felix in. Aunt Zaria follows behind.

The gathering is as festive as intended. Simon is delighted to see everyone and gets passed from one person to another until it’s time for cake. And even though it is not Lenny’s birthday, both boys blow out the candles together. Johnathan doesn’t mind because Lenny would have kicked up a fuss and then Simon would have reacted by crying too. It doesn’t matter as long as the babies are happy.

~

By the time everyone clears out, Johnathan, Will and Simon are exhausted. Simon makes an adorably valiant attempt to help clean up but falls asleep in the middle of his toys. Johnathan takes a moment to put away the unopened ones while Will sniggers over the pictures he snapped.

Together, they clean up the things that cannot be left out, like the food and dishes. And leave the rest of the decorations up for now. There will be time for it tomorrow. For now, they carry Simon to bed and tuck him in. 

“Papa, Daddy,” Simon whispers sleepily. “Good night,” he says as they hug him.

“Good night, my little bunny. I love you.” Will smiles and kisses his cheek. 

Johnathan kisses his other cheek. “Good night, Simon.”