Cherry Blossom | TRACOB

One

//Dreamers
-Willa//

"...happy birthday to yooooou!" The well known song ended and Troye bent down so he was eye level with his youngest son, giggling at the silly look on Riley's face as he looked at the flame on top of the big '1' candle that sat atop the vanilla cake.

"Can we blow it out?" Troye asked in a baby voice, blowing lightly on the flame to make it flicker, but not go completely out. Riley giggled and watched with wide eyes as the flame was blown completely out. "Good job," Troye praised with a giggle, picking the cake up and moving it to the table before Riley could get his hands on it.

Joel leaned on the counter, watching as Troye held Jacob the knife and the hazel eyed man sunk the knife into the cake, making it into equal parts. Dan, Phil, Zoe and Alfie were all there, along with Hari who had flown in from New York where she was living to visit. "Can I have that piece please?" Joel asked, pointing to the one with the most writing on it.

"Now Joel, sit down. The guests need to be fed first, you know that," Troye said, patting Joel's bum to make him sit down.

"Oh come on Troye," Hari said as she pulled the lid off the ice cream. "We can wait, give the boy the cake."

"He has to learn patience-"

"It's a birthday party."

Troye sighed. "Just set that piece aside for Joel then, but he still has to wait."

"Thank you Dad!" Joel's voice was excited.

"You'd better thank your aunt Hari," Troye responded, kissing Joel's dark curls.

"Thank you aunt Hari!"

"You're welcome," Hari said, sounding proud of her accomplishment. Troye just shook his head and took the tiny piece of cake that Jacob handed him and put it on the tray of Riley's highchair, grabbing a little spoon and helping to feed the boy. Troye giggled at the huge smile that broke out across the babies face as he experienced the yellow coloured icing for the first time.

"You're so beautiful," he said softly, giving Riley another bite of the cake.

"He takes after you." Troye looked up to see Jacob standing above him with a fond look in his eyes. Scratch that- the look was one of pure love. Troye blushed lightly at Jacob's words, leaning back and resting his head against the man's thighs, smiling up at him. "How about I take care of Riley and you go see your friends? It's been too long since you have had some time with Dan and Zoe."

"Are you sure? You seemed to be having a nice conversation, and I just saw Zo and Dan last week-"

"You saw them, but you have not gotten to talk to them for a long time without the boys. You just go ahead now Tro."

Troye gave Jacob a thankful smile and walked over to where Zoe and Dan were stretched out on the floor, watching Alfie, Phil and Hari talk. "Hey guys," he greeted, also getting onto the floor and making sure that his skirt was straightened out.

"Hey Tro!" Zoe and Dan replied in unison, both smiling at their friend.

"Hello," Troye replied. "Is there anything I can get you? I should have asked before but I was feeding Riley and it slipped my mind-"

"Enough." Zoe's voice showed no room for disagreement, so Troye just nodded with a sigh. "I get that you have kids to care for now, but if you want to be healthy you need to take some time for yourself as well. When was the last time you and your husband went out without the boys?"

"Well we have not really had a reason to."

"Non-sense. You do need to choose a night and send the boys with me. I'd be overjoyed to watch them for you." 

"But would Alfie be overjoyed to have two monsters in his house?"

Zoe giggled. "He's gonna have to get used to it. I can't wait for kittens. I never expected to be in a situation where it was a possibility."

"Are you and Alfie trying for a baby?" Troye asked her, grinning brightly when she nodded. "That is so exciting! I'm happy for you two."

"You two are so lucky," Dan said, resting his head in his hands. "I really wish I could have kittens. I know we could adopt or buy or whatever, but that's not the same and I want my own baby that I carried around for a few months."

"I know that it isn't the same but maybe you should talk to Phil about adopting. I know that lots of kitties end up getting pregnant by accident, or you could buy one while they are super young and save them from going through training," Troye said, feeling bad that his friend would never be able to experience having his own kitten.

"I suppose you are right. It would be nice to save one from training."

"Are the boys going to training, Troye?" Zoe asked.

"Not like we went through. Maybe a summer camp or two, but I am not selling them." Joel wandered up to Troye silently poking him on the shoulder, innocently looking at him when Troye turned around. "Oh my Joel, did you even get any of that cake in your mouth?"

Joel just giggled at his dad's reaction to the mess on his face, shrugging his shoulders. "I dunno. Can we open presents now daddy?"

"Not like that," Troye said, standing up and taking hold of the four year old's wrist to lead him to a sink. "I'll be back," he told Zoe and Dan as he took Joel to the bathroom and started to wash his face and hands, chuckling at the pout that appeared on the little guys face every time water touched him. Once he was clean Troye let him go, thankful to see that Riley had been cleaned up by the time they got back to the kitchen. Troye unbuckled him from his chair and scooped him up, carrying him to the living room area where everyone but Jacob -who had been watching Riley and was following them- already was. Troye sat on the floor and stretched his legs out, setting Riley between them. "Joel, go grab a present for your brother please."

Joel hurried to jump out of Jacob's where lap and run to the pile of brightly wrapped gifts, bringing one with trucks and planes on the wrapping paper. "Here you go, Riley!" he said excitedly, sitting down cross legged to watch. "Can I help him daddy? I don't think he knows how."

"You may, but remember that they are Riley's, okay?"

"Okay!" Joel began to tear the paper back, all the while rambling to Riley about how to unwrap presents, because Joel had lots of practice from his four birthdays. Once it was revealed, Joel gasped excitedly. "Look Riley! It's a piano toy!" Riley giggled and Joel ran to grab the next present, once again helping his brother open it. "A teddy bear!"

This continued until all the presents were opened and looked at. "Thank you for helping," Troye said as he picked up the paper and threw it out, making sure the floor was baby safe before laying Riley down and sitting on the floor near Jacob's feet. He watched the boy's playing together with a smile before turning back to his conversation about kittens with Dan and Zoe.

HI

ITS ME AND ITS TOO EARLY CAUSE I COULDNT THINK OF A SONG SO I JUST PUT THIS ONE BECAUSE ITS UPBEAT AND NOT ABOUT A BREAKUP!

I thought I had this ready to publish but nOPe that's the next chapter

Anyways

Tell me what you thought even though it's a boring intro

-Sarah