Happy Birthday!

[light_in_sound]

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.

Comments

[sonofarize]

Longshot did not understand why his Dad wanted to go fishing. It was not like the Mojoworlder was entirely familiar with it. Though he would give it a shot to spend time with John. When he caught fish, he didn't want to particularly to keep them. He already had a pond full of fish. Also, he was not hungry for fish. So he released what he caught.

Now, he was coming home and his pace was slowing because the front yard looked a little funny...

[light_in_sound]

When Sadie's ears perked up and her tail started to wag, Alison knew that Longshot and John must be returning. She grinned and hopped up out of her seat to run to the door. A peek out the window confirmed it.

"Okay, girls. You know the plan." Lisa handed Hana to the jonin and Gloria Jean passed Aiden off to Alison as the two girls passed her. Then they raced out the front door, down the steps, and bolted for Longshot.

"You gotta close your eyes!" Lisa shouted, waving her arms and giggling.

[laertes]

"Longshot! Longshot!" Gloria Jean was similarly running and waving her arms. When she got to the Mojoworlder she gave him the biggest hug possible. She tried to squish him, but he was too darn sturdy. She grabbed one of his hands.

"C'mon! And close your eyes! Lisa and me won't let you fall or something." She tugged on his hand.

[clericpreston]

John carefully side-stepped the incoming girl missiles. They were not large, but they were still dangerous. He chuckled and took Longshot's fishing pole.

"Better do what they say. I don't think they take 'no' for an answer. I'll carry the stuff in."

[redheadspy]

Tasha was late. It seemed to be a running theme since Mikhail had been born. She had the job of keeping Graydon moving when it came time to get ready to go somewhere and the job of getting all of the necessary items for Mikhail ready. Graydon was like all kids. There were times when they just didn't want to move. But then Tasha pointed out that Lisa and Robbie were going to be there and the longer Graydon took to get ready, the less time he'd have to spend with that. That got him moving a little quicker.

Mikhail was a different problem all together.

Tasha fondly remembered the days where when she wanted to visit someone she just walked out the door.

In the end they made it. Which was all that mattered.

Natasha knocked on the front door.

[shifters_shame]

Graydon bounced on the balls of his feet next to Tasha. He might not have been all that motivated to go earlier, but he hadn't seen Lisa and Robbie in awhile. He was excited to see them again. And seeing Longshot again would be nice. Longshot was one brother who didn't try chewing on his game systems.

[sonofarize]

The door was answered by a baby girl! Well, Hana was there while her other grandmother opened the door. She squealed and reached for the red-haired lady. She was familiar and snuggly!

The jonin smiled and bowed slightly. "Irasshai. Please, come in."

She gestured for them to come in.

[redheadspy]

"Thank you," Natasha said with a slight bow. Natasha would've reached out for Hana, but Mikhail was in her arms. He struggled to get down, but Natasha held him firmly in her arms. Ever since starting to walk, being held was something bad.

[shatterstar]

Tasha may have been late, but she was not the latest arrival. That fell to Longshot's oldest progeny. Shatterstar stood in front of the front door to the castle. He looked at the small package in his hand and contemplated returning home. This was a loud, festive event and not his element.

Except Alison had been most adamant in tracking him down to attend. So, he straightened himself up like he was about to step into the arena and knocked.

[light_in_sound]

Yay! Another guest! Alison set her plate down on the end table and hopped up from her seat beside Longshot on the couch. She could get the door this time. Everyone else was occupied with eating or chatting.

She went to the door and pulled it open without looking. It was a party full of ninjas and superheros. Bad guys had the wrong address, today. But, oh! Surprise! Her step-son had decided to turn up.

"Hey, sweetie!" She grinned and went up on tip toes to hug him. Oh yes, there would be huggings. "I'm so glad you came. Longshot will be glad to see you."

[shatterstar]

"Hello, Alison," he greeted in return and then blinked at the hug. He ever so slowly hugged her back. "I did not think you would let me not come."

Shatterstar glanced through the open door. "How is my father?"

[light_in_sound]

One day, she would get him accustomed to hugs. She was willing to accept that that day might be a long time in coming. But, she was patient in some things.

"Well, I would have been sad if you hadn't come." Also? Miffed. She stepped back and smiled at him. "He's doing great. Seems to be enjoying his surprise party. Come on in. He's in the living room. So is your little brother and sister."

[pastthegumbo]

After checking on three of Dakota's children (the fourth was easier to check on since she has a very good idea of where that child is at), Rogue settles in beside her husband. He has graciously held onto her heaping plate. Also, he is needed to make sure no one takes her seat. There were lots of ninjas about. Festive ninjas. Rogue doesn't know how that works.

She glances over at the family gathering on the couch. She nudges her husband with an elbow. "Think we'll get more happy moments like that one?"

[laertes]

Dakota eyed the little reunion and hugfest. "Probably not. I don't have any sons from the future that were made into destruction machines."

He was going to say 'killing' but he didn't want to blip on any ninja radar. Nor on Alison's. She was enforcing happy fun times after all.

[pastthegumbo]

Rogue shakes her fork at him. "You, Mister Standing Fox, are a killjoy."

Though her eyes trailed down to little Hana. She wants one so bad.

[laertes]

"That's not what you said last night," he muttered before shoving a forkful of food into his mouth. Dakota tried to look like the picture of innocence while chewing. Since he was not Longshot, he failed miserably.

[clericpreston]

There were sneaky non-ninja things afoot. Specifically in the forms of two little girls peering around the corner from the hallway into the living room and wondering how adults always managed to take something as fun as a party and make it boring?

Humph. Well, it was up to them to save it, obviously.

Lisa nodded to Gloria Jean and they set their plan into motion. Basically, the plan was to walk over to the present table, grab the present each of them had gotten for Longshot, and take it to him. Simple plans were often the best kind, really.

"Happy Birthday, Longshot!" Lisa announced as she held out her gift to him. Her Dad had said that Christmas was a time for special, sentimental gifts, but birthdays were for fun stuff. So, she got Longshot a remote controlled boat shaped like a pirate ship that he could use on the koi pond. She hoped he liked it.

[laertes]

Gloria Jean had been granted some money by her Dad to get Longshot a present. There hadn't been time with all her schoolwork to make something. So, she had taken her Step-Mommy out shopping. Gloria Jean had picked out her gift and wrapped it herself. So, the wrapping wasn't quite perfect around it.

"Yeah! Happy Birthday!" She held out a brightly wrapped package containing an ironwood carving of a bear with two little cubs.

[sonofarize]

"Why thank you!" He took both the presents and ripped them open with no ceremony. He oohed over them. Then he reached out and snagged both of them. He hugged the stuffing out of them!

"I like these very much!"

[light_in_sound]

"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.