Chapter Text
Robert was extremely excited when he woke up. He got home late last night, Aaron was busy with the kids so they both just kinda fell into bed half asleep. Exhausted to even have a decent conversation. That’s why Robert thought that waking up alone in bed, on his birthday meant that a surprise was on its way. He thought Aaron might be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast in bed. His mind went to various places daydreaming about how this day would be. He cleared his calendar, not a single meeting in sight. Perfect. He can spend the whole day with Aaron after they arrange a last-minute babysitting for the kids.
After 10 minutes alone he got suspicious. He looked at the clock on his nightstand. Aaron should’ve been back with food by now. What could possibly take him this long? He didn’t want to ruin the surprise but he was too impatient to wait any longer. He gave up the comfort of the warm bed, grabbed his robe, and slowly walked downstairs. He could already hear faint voices. A silent conversation no doubt between Aaron and the kids.
“Sit still please.” – asked Aaron from a giggling Jacob. The little boy shook his head as he threw cereals at his dad. – “Jacob.” – warned Aaron. Obviously, it was all a game and a few seconds later Annie decided to join in as well. – “Oi!” – laughed Aaron. The kitchen was a mess but somehow he didn’t mind. From the corner of his eye, he could see Seb aiming for him as well, but before he could grab the plate he turned to him – “Don’t you start and all. You’re too big for this.” – he said. It was true, he turned 10 last year, and actually, he was a great help with the twins. Aaron had no idea how he and Robert got this lucky. Speaking of his husband, Aaron could see him appear at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the chaotic scene.
“Hi.” – smiled Robert.
“Hi, dad!” – shouted Seb – “Happy birthday!” – he said running to him to give him a quick hug and an envelope. It was a simple little card, but Robert still got emotional over it. Before he could even reply Seb announced that he needed to go to school, and he wanted Aaron to drop him off.
“Your dad is busy with the twins, let me change quickly and then I can take you.” – said Robert when he looked at Aaron, who was trying to clean the mess on the kitchen table.
“No! I want him to take me!” – argued Seb as he pointed to Aaron.
“It’s okay.” – shrugged Aaron. – “I wanted to drop these two off on the way anyway.” – he said winking at Robert. That’s all it took for Robert to start grinning. – “Alright mate, go get your bag, and please grab the twins’ stuff as well. It’s in their room on the chair.
“Okay.” – nodded Seb running upstairs. Aaron left the kids in their high chair – where they can’t cause too much trouble – before he walked towards his husband.
“Happy birthday.” – he smiled kissing him briefly.
“I thought you might bring me breakfast in bed.”
“Yeah, well something came up.” – smiled Aaron, and Robert had to join him. Arranging some alone time was difficult enough with one kid… let alone 3.
“I’m here! we can go.” – announced Seb as he got back and their brief little moment ended suddenly.
“So, you’re leaving me here?” – pouted Robert as he helped scooping up the twins from their chairs. He was half-joking.
“Yeah, but then I’ll come back and we can do whatever you want…. birthday boy.” – winked Aaron before he urged Seb out the door.
What Robert didn’t know and Aaron hadn’t told him was that they planned him a surprise birthday party. It was actually Seb’s idea and he managed to rope Chas and Paddy in as well as basically all the family. Chas said they could have the pub, and Seb was over the moon when his dad told him that he can have the day off from school.
So instead of dropping off Seb, like he said to Robert, Aaron only got in the car to drive around the pub and park at the back. Seb was ready to run along when Aaron shouted after him. – “Oi! Help me. Can you hold Annie?”
“Argh, why?” – he asked but he still held out his hands.
“Because I can’t take them both AND their stuff AND lock the car before getting the birthday stuff as well.”
“Can I help auntie Vic with the cake?” – asked Seb as he helped his dad. Fortunately, Paddy saw them and went over to help.
“Are you guys ready?” – he asked looking at a smiling Seb, who wasted no time to shove Annie into Paddy’s arm.
“Yess!!”
“Okay, be quiet you, and get in.” – told him Aaron, before he spoke to Paddy – “I think Robert’s suspicious.”
“Or just disappointed that you didn’t get him breakfast in bed.” – piped up Seb. Paddy only raised his eyebrows looking at his stepson.
“Shut up.” – he said quickly before Paddy could say anything.
“I wasn’t going to….”
“Yes, you were.”
“Alright. Because it’s so not you.” –he laughed amazed.
“You’re wrong. It’s so him.” – said Seb rolling his eyes as they walked inside. Aaron only smirked at that. Of course, Seb would know him. He saw all the little domestic stuff he and Robert did at home. They just didn’t get all mushy with others around. No wonder Paddy was surprised.
They walked in to see the pub almost fully decorated. It already looked great, but it still needed those final finishing touches.
“Luv, give him to me.” – smiled Chas already calling dibs on the kids. She loved her grandkids, and since the twins will only turn two this year, she was all over them demanding grandma time.
“He’s all yours…. and the little princess as well.” – sighed Aaron referring to Annie. – “You’re still good to look after them for tonight, right?” – checked Aaron.
“And the little mischief as well.” – smiled Chas looking at the direction where Seb went only a second ago.
“And I’m gonna take the duty for the weekend.” – said Diane appearing from behind the bar. – “So you lads can have a nice little holiday.”
“Cheers Diane, it’s been in the making for years.” – said Aaron before he looked at his phone. – “Oh, I gotta call him in a few, telling him that traffic is hell… then Jimmy can have a go.” – he laughed. Jimmy had a whole script for fake calling Robert, and dragging him to the yard because of “an emergency”.
“Nicola said he was rehearsing the whole thing yesterday evening.” – said Chas.
“And this morning.” – added Nicola coming through the back.
“Hey.” – said Aaron. – “He’s not gonna blow it, right?”
“Don’t worry, he made it to his mission to help keeping the surprise. If he ruins it, he knows the consequences.” – she said with a straight face. Paddy and Aaron only looked at each other, gulping hard. Nicola could be very…. scary when she wanted to be. – “So, another year older…” - she started half smirking.
“Please don’t start with the aging jokes. You know how he can get.” – said Aaron.
“Yes, don’t worry, I know Mr. Sensitive.” – she said brushing it off. – “It’s nice though. You, doing this for him.”
“It was Seb’s idea, but I thought it would go well with my present.”
“Ah, the trip.” – she said remembering. – “Did you know that he was going on about that the other week?”
“What?” – asked Aaron half panicking. – “He knows?”
“No, he has no idea don’t worry. He didn’t say it specifically… just that you two haven’t been on a proper holiday since ages.”
“Yeah well, we kinda have our hands full.” – he said glancing at the twins. They were perfectly well entertained by their grandmothers in the corner.
“Don’t worry it’s looking good on you. Both of you.” – she said smiling before Vic called her away to help in the kitchen.
“So? What’s the plan for tonight?” – asked Paddy just casually wanting to strike up a conversation. These days it was hard to get Aaron alone, so he wanted to grab the opportunity.
“Really?” – he asked confused. Everybody knew they never got an empty house, not since the twins arrived anyway. Paddy should know what they were gonna do. – “We’re gonna have an early night. In bed asleep by 8.” – joked Aaron.
“Really?” – asked Paddy not getting it.
“We’re gonna have an empty house. What do you think?” – he asked looking at him in a certain way, making sure he gets it this time.
“Oh…. oh! Yeah, sorry. No, I don’t wanna hear about that.” – he said blushing. – “I didn’t mean like…. just like…” – he trailed off not knowing how to finish this chat. – “Not that we haven’t walked in on you one way or another.”– he chuckled.
“Okay, I think I need a beer.” – said Aaron leaving him alone. He needed to call Robert in a few so the plan could get a move on. Then in an hour or two, his husband would get the birthday celebration he deserved. Aaron couldn’t wait to see his smile.