Angst and Maybe Some Fluff

Happy Birthday

Chase sat down in the living room, taking it all in. It was his birthday, and honestly it couldn't be better.

Marvin had made him breakfast in bed and Jackie helped.

Schneeplestein and JJ took the time to organize a party.

Anti even took the time to go get the supplies.

He had been woken up by an excited Marvin jumping up and down on his bed and Jackie off to the side with the food. When he finished his food, he came downstairs to everybody jumping up, besides Anti of course, yelling surprise with confetti and a banner. Behind them sat a stack of presents and JJ motioned towards them, indicating he should open them.

Chase slowly walked over and opened the first present he saw, from Marvin. It was a new snap back, grey and red like the old one, but slightly different and less worn. Chase looked over to see Marvin staring determinedly at the floor and Chase laughed, giving the magician a big hug. Marvin giggled and smiled and hugged back.

Chase went back to the presents, opening them now with more enthusiasm. Schneep had gotten him a new mp3 playwr, so he could download music and not have it take room on his phone.

Jackie got him a new Nerf gun. It was really cool and big, unlike any he'd seen before.

Anti, surprisingly, also got him a present. It was only a simple black shirt, but it was still something and he didn't expect it in the slightest.

After he got done opening the presents, he felt overwhelmed and sat down on the couch, thanking all of them from the bottom of his heart. It was such a simple action, but it meant so much.

JJ came over to where he was sitting and passed him a note, saying, I have your gifts but you have to come into the hallway in about 10 minutes. Chase looked up, ready to ask some questions but JJ had already left the room. Chase jumped up and went into the hallway, wondering what was up.

JJ was there, with a phone in his hand, and it made him even more confused. JJ didn't use his phone often, being mute and all.

JJ just looked up and smiled at him, beckoning him closer. Chase obliged and JJ handed him the phone currently in a call.

Chase brought it up to his ear and said, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Daddy? It's us!"

Chase fell to the floor, tears falling down his face. "Sam? Grayson?"

"Yeah, mommy gave us the phone. I don't know why."

Chase wiped his eyes and smiled slightly. "It doesn't matter, how have you been?"

"We've been having a lot of fun! The park is next to our house and we've met a lot of friends!" Sam exclaimed.

"That's good, honey. So you like it there with mommy?"

"Yeah!"

Chase talked to them for about 10 minutes before their short attention spans ran out. He hung up the phone and sobbed. He missed his kids so much. But they were happy where they were at. Chase cried and cried until he felt JJ's hand on his shoulder.

No, he told himself. He does still have his family. The egos are his family and little Marvin may as well be his kid. They all loved each other and supported one another and that was all he needed to have a family. His family was right here, giving him presents and comforting him.

He couldn't ask for a better one.