The Way We Were

The Way We Blowout

Marcy kissed Rajah's cheek repeatedly. "Happy birthday, baby."

Rajah yawned and opened his eyes before sitting up when her words registered. "It's my birthday! It's my birthday!"

"Yes, it is." She put on that happy voice people did to kids all the time.

He giggled.

"Daddy's going to take you to town to get your very first suit and then you'll come back and we'll have your party."

"Yay!"

W.W.W.

Marcy directed the flow of traffic so everything would go according to plan and be on time.

She wanted Rajah's party to be like an art gallery showing and they were decorating the house that way. Torero was cooking up lots of foodstuffs that'd be great in such a setting with plenty of help (Mercedes and Xindi) as workers made everything chic and sleek.

All of the boys (including Quad, Sebby, Mike-Mike and Cai) were getting suits.

"Are birthdays usually like this?" Xindi asked Mercedes.

The pregnant nineteen year old nodded. "We're big on special occasions. Any excuse to party."

Xindi smiled. "My birthday already passed."

"So did mine. But there's sporting events and Halloween and Christmas. That is very big for us."

Xindi smiled to herself. "Christmas."

"Oh yes. We don't do anything small. Obviously. But we shine at Christmas. And we're going to a beach this year. But you'll probably be sick of the beach. We don't live far from many in Cali."

"I have never been to a beach."

Mercedes nearly died. "Well we're going home next week and you will then. Marcy will make sure of it."

W.W.W.

Mal adjusted his sons' ties. "Look good."

Mally tugged at his tie, hating things around his neck like his father. "Daddy, can we go now?"

"You don't like it here?" Marc teased as he bounced with Quad.

"I feel like we're taking Christmas pictures."

"Christmas pictures?" Rajah asked.

"It's bad." Mally nodded sagely. "You have to wear fancy clothes and get your picture taken but you can't play."

Mal (and the other men) laughed. "Namesake! Don't scare him!"

"You and Mommy say to always tell the truth."

Po made a rude noise. "Ask your mother what she did last night."

"Grandfather!" Mal spat.

Mally and Rajah looked at each other in complete confusion before shrugging.

W.W.W.

The door opened and Rajah was transported to an Italian art gallery fit for royalty. Art of all styles was displayed with waiters/waitresses carrying food and drinks on silver platters.

Rajah loved it. Especially when he saw his own pictures hanging up.

Marcy hugged him tightly. "Who did that?!"

"Me!"

"Yeah!" She tickled him before setting him on his feet. "Go play!"

He tore off.

Mal wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Were they better?"

"Who?" He asked.

"The boys."

"Actually, yeah. Mally's getting used to him and Rajah's relaxing."

"Good."

W.W.W.

Rajah was surprised when a deep dish pizza was set in front of him. He'd never seen one before and it had two candles while a large cake had two as well.

Everyone began singing Happy Birthday to him then Marcy told him to blow out his candles. He did and everyone clapped. He felt very grown up and cherished.

W.W.W.

After Marcy gave all of her (young) children a bath, she put them in bed. "Did you have a good time?"

"Yes!" They shouted.

She chuckled. "Did you have a good birthday, Raj?"

Rajah had never had a nickname before but then again he'd never had a mom either. "Yes."

"Good. Daddy's going to be in here to read you your stories then I'll sing to you." She made sure they were comfortable.

Mally yawned. "Grandfather said to ask you what you were doing last night."

"Mommy was hurt a long time ago and she never dealt with it. I dealt with it."

"Oh."

She nodded as Mal came in. "Just in time."