Work Text:
Age 9
It had been nice having Aiden and Coën over for dinner. Vesemir had invited them as a special treat for Lambert’s birthday, and Lambert had been so happy to have his friends there that he’d forgotten all about not speaking to Vesemir.
“Alright, there’s one last surprise for you,” Vesemir said, standing from his seat.
Lambert felt himself shrinking into his seat a little. Surprises were never good, and he’d already gotten his presents. Vesemir had bought him a new winter coat, since his old one was too small now, and Geralt and Eskel had made a card for him.
Vesemir disappeared into the kitchen, and Geralt bounced up out of his chair to flick the light switch, leaving the room as dark as it could get at six o’clock.
The warm glow of candles flickering appeared in the kitchen doorway, and Lambert felt his heart begin to race. Everyone started singing as Vesemir emerged, carrying a big chocolate cake. The same one Lambert had been staring at when they went grocery shopping the weekend before.
Tears started stinging his eyes. His throat felt tight.
Vesemir set the cake down, smiling more than Lambert had ever seen him smile before. Geralt was swaying a little, just like he always did when he was happy. Everyone was looking at Lambert.
“Make a wish!” Coën cried, bouncing on the spot.
Lambert squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the prickle of tears, and blew as hard as he could to put out the candles. Everyone cheered, and suddenly it was all too much.
He fled, choking on his sobs.
It was Eskel that came after him, finding him curled up in the little nook under the stairs.
“Too much noise, or too much feelings?” Eskel asked, crouching down beside him. He looked worried, like he did when Geralt got all quiet or went to hide.
Lambert shrugged. “Feelin’s, I guess,” he mumbled into his knees. “I want my mum.”
Eskel nodded. He probably wanted his mum too, Lambert thought. He wasn’t actually Vesemir’s kid either. Geralt was at least his nephew, but Eskel and Lambert were just fosters.
“Do you want a hug?” Eskel asked, chewing on his fingernail.
Lambert nodded.
“A hug from me, or a hug from Vesemir?”
Lambert wasn’t sure. Vesemir hugs were good, even if Vesemir still scared him a little sometimes. Eskel hugs were really good, because even Geralt liked Eskel hugs, and Geralt didn’t like people touching him.
“B-both?” Lambert said, uncurling a little.
Eskel dragged him into a hug before he could change his mind, then went and got Vesemir so that Vesemir could hug him too.
Aiden and Coën both hugged him too when he came back to the living room.
It was the best birthday party Lambert had ever had.
Age 13
“Well, you’re a teenager now,” Vesemir said, sighing as he cut into the cake. It was the same cake they’d eaten every year for Lambert’s birthday. “You gonna take pity on an old man and forgo the teenage rebellion?”
Lambert cackled. “Nope. In fact, I’m gonna start swearing all the time. And I want a tattoo,” he added, eyeing up the matching wolf tattoos on Eskel and Geralt’s forearms.
“My cousin Axel does tattoos,” Aiden said, grinning. “Bet he’d give you one.”
Vesemir scowled down at Aiden. “Your cousin Axel comes anywhere near him with a needle, and I’ll hunt him down, see if I don’t.”
Aiden just laughed.
“Well, fuck,” Lambert said.
Vesemir laughed so loud that Roach was startled off her perch in the window and went streaking off out of the room, tail puffed up.
Age 18
Lambert’s tiny student flat was packed full. His neighbours were definitely going to complain about the noise, but there was nothing for it. He was the last one to turn eighteen, and Geralt and Eskel had taken the train up to see him, along with their gaggle of various tag-alongs.
Diedre was playing with Ciri in Lambert’s room, which he’d thoroughly checked that morning for anything incriminating. Luckily, they kept most of that stuff in Aiden’s room, since his bed didn’t squeak.
Yennefer was hassling Jaskier while he tried to hook up the sound system.
Vesemir had driven up with Coën and his uncle Keldar, and Aiden’s uncle Gezras had tagged along.
Ivo and Junod had enlisted Gerd’s help to fill the kitchen with as much booze as they could get their hands on.
When it came time for cake, Lambert felt his heart clench. They hadn’t been able to get his traditional cake since his fifteenth birthday. The store had changed their cakes, and the chocolate cake just wasn’t the same anymore. He missed it.
The cake Vesemir emerged from the kitchen with was… amazing. Topped with chocolate treats, it was obviously homemade, though Lambert knew Vesemir was useless at baking.
“Uncle Gezras made it,” Aiden murmured, eyes alight with joy. “Don’t tell him I told you, but he’s amazing with cakes. Used to own a bakery.”
Lambert believed it. The cake looked utterly decadent.
“Too much noise, or too much feelings?” Eskel asked as the cake was set down in front of Lambert.
Lambert hadn’t even realised he was crying.
“This is… I love you guys,” he said, scrubbing at his eyes.
It was the best birthday party Lambert had ever had.
Age 25
Surrounded by their friends and family, Lambert and Aiden swayed together, foreheads pressed together as they danced for the first time as married men.
The cake had been taken away after they’d made the first cut, back into the kitchen to be divided for the guests. Gezras had been a little too smug about all the compliments on the cake, and was still grinning, when Aiden turned them enough for Lambert to spot him.
Chocolate cake had been served at all the important milestones in Lambert’s life ever since joining his family. He refused to let his wedding pass by without it.
Vesemir had gone a little misty eyed when Lambert had told him they were serving chocolate cake. But Vesemir had also been a little misty eyed over just about everything since they’d started planning the wedding in the first place.
Another turn let Lambert catch a glimpse of Vesemir in his seat, sniffling again.
Lambert had never felt more loved than he did in that moment. Aiden in his arms, his brothers and dad crying, and chocolate cake waiting for him.