Miss Jackson 3: The Urie Family

Chapter Ten

Today is Brendon's 39th Birthday and even though he's not excited about it, the kids and I are going to throw him a big party.
I decided the theme would be for each kid to pick out something that he likes for each part of the party.
Violet chose music so we got music themed decorations. Grayson picked me, because he said and I quote "Daddy LOVES mommy." But I went ahead and decided he meant the family so I got him a caricature done of the 5 of us for a present.
And Asher said he loves dinosaurs like him and he was real serious about that so I got him a dinosaur cake.
I made sure to rent out the entire bowling alley and picked his favorite songs for the playlist.
I invited all of our close friend and his dad since he still isn't talking to Grace.
I have it all set up at the bowling alley, a place he loves to go often. I have Spencer taking him out right now and they should be here soon.

Around 2 is when Spencer texts me and says they're here so I tell everyone to act like they aren't there for a party. I watch Brendon come in looking unsuspicious until he sees me, then everyone yells surprise and a smile spreads across his face.

"Surprise dad!" Grayson and Violet yell and hug him as he makes his way over to me.

"Happy birthday B!" I announce to him and give him a kiss.

"Thank you!" He says and presses a kiss to my cheek.

"Open this dad!" Grayson hands him our gift and he takes the large frame and sits down to open it. He laughs when he sees the cartoon version of our family.

"Thanks, this is perfect. I've been saying I wanted to see what I looked like with an oversized head and this is perfect." He laughs and gives all 3 of the kids hugs.

"Here you go. Happy Birthday man." Dallon says and hands him a beer. He takes a sip and thanks him. Dallon stands back and calls the room to his attention.

"In honor of Brendon's 39th birthday I'd like to congratulate him on all of his success, in order to not dwell on his getting older but to take a look back at all the amazing things he's done in the past." He begins his speech. "For starters his beautiful family, I met Brendon in college when we was just a little 20 year old sophomore, he was dating someone else and we genuinely thought she'd be the one for him but that clearly didn't work out. And then he met Delilah when he was 24 and it was really clear that this one would be the one. They got married a little while later and I've never seen a better couple-other than my wife and myself, obviously." He laughs and so does everyone else. "I'd also like to take a moment to appreciate all that he's done in just the past-decade or so. He went from teaching high school students to teaching college students and some how managed to start writing for one of the biggest bands that was out-you know when they were still around. But through all that he managed to become a stay at home dad, which honestly is one of the most amazing jobs there is." He pauses and smiles at Brendon. "Which brings me to his final and most amazing thing he's done...create these 3 beautiful munchkins." He gestures to the kids. "So! To Brendon! The talent, the teacher, the father!" He finishes and we all clap and then I press a kiss to Brendon's cheek.

After about an hour or so of socializing with all of our friends I can't seem to find Brendon in the building anywhere. I planned on him cutting his cake in 5 minutes but I can't find him anywhere.
I ask Breezy to watch the kids while I go outside to see if he's out there and sure enough he's sitting on a half wall by the parking lot.

"Bren what are you doing out here?" I ask him as I get closer and I see the beer in his hand and try to mentally count all the beers I've seen in his hand in the past hour but by the time I approach him I've only counted 5.

"We've been together for a long time D." He mumbles in a slur and I know he's definitely had more than 5 beers in the past hour. "14 years. To be exact." He takes another swig. "And in those 14 years you have done a lot. Not just for the family but for yourself too. And what have I done? What am I known for?" He laughs a little and I'm even more confused. I fold my arms across my chest waiting for him to get to the point. "I'm a fucking dad." He laughs again. "My greatest accomplishment is being a dad!"

"And that's a bad thing?" I ask, pushing him to elaborate.

"Yes! Of course it is. Don't you see? I'm Brendon, husband of a award winning writer, father to her 3 kids. That's as far as my accomplishments go!" He takes another long swig of his beer.

"What are you getting at?" I ask.

"I'm going to be 40 next year and I haven't done a god damn thing." He drops the bottle from his hand, luckily it's aluminum so it doesn't break but I pick it up anyways.

"Where is this coming from Brendon? I thought you loved being a father?" This is out of left field.

"I do!" He groans, throwing his head in his hands and pulling at his hair. "But to everyone that's all I am! That's all I'll ever be! A husband and father."

"And you want more?" I ask, clearing the bile in my throat that has appeared thanks to this confession.

"I want to be like you Delilah," he looks at me for the first time since I've been out here, his eyes are blood shot. "I want to have my name in a book-or in flashing lights." He sighs.

"Brendon, you're not just a father and husband. You're Brendon Urie. You've done so much in the past 14 years I've known you. You wrote for the biggest band ever, you were a professor. You're so much more than you think you are-trust me." I explain, moving myself so I'm closer to him. I place my hand on his back. "To our friends-yes you are a father and a husband but I'm no different. To them, I'm not some big famous writer. I'm Delilah, husband do Brendon. Mother to 3 beautiful kids. Because they are our closest friends. They've known us since before any of our names were written down." I laugh. "Brendon, you are only 39, you have so much talent. If you want to go out and be somebody. Then go do it. And the kids and I will be here when you get back."

He's silent for a while and then he looks up at me again. "I love you." He smiles. He pulls me in for a hug and I kiss the top of his head.

"I love you too. Now we better get back to the party before they start getting antsy." I explain and stand up, I take his hand and pull him back inside, where no one even notices we were gone.

"So where was he?" Breezy asks and she hands me a drink.

"Outside." I sigh. "He just wanted some air." I explain and take a sip. I can't believe he thinks he's just a father and just a husband. He's so much more to everyone than that.