Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Careful there, kiddo." He ran a hand through Jack's messy blonde hair. "Stir slowly and carefully. Keep it in the bowl."

Megan's job was to hold the bowl in place for her older brother, and she carried out her task with intense concentration, her tongue sticking out and eyes glued to the bowl. Alan dropped a kiss on her head, stifling his laughter. 

Today was Ellie's birthday, and both children wanted to do something special for their mom. They had come up with the idea all by themselves - breakfast, presents and flowers in bed. They just needed an adult to help them pull off the plan.

Alan had nearly been overwhelmed with pride when his son had come to him with the idea. How the hell had he managed to help raise such a brilliant human being? He had no idea - it must have been Ellie's influence.

"Think it's all mixed?" He leant over the kids, making a show of peering into the bowl. 

"Dad!" Jack giggled, his sister following suit. "I can't see!"

"Oh, sorry, let me help." He covered the boy's eyes with one hand. Jack squealed, his giggles growing in volume as he dropped the spoon to grab at Alan's hand. 

"Dad!" Alan slipped his other hand around the boy, scooping him up off the chair and spinning him around. Jack's hands moved from the hand covering his eyes to the one holding him around the middle. He was giggling the whole time. "Dad, stop!"

"What? Sorry, I can't hear you!" He spun around another time. He removed his hand from Jack's eyes to hold the boy more securely - as he dangled him upside down. "Is that better?"

"No!"

"Why not? You can see now, can't you?"

"The world is upside down." Jack giggled.

"Wait, what? How could that have happened?" Alan frowned, looking over at Megan. "Did you turn the world upside down?"

The little girl shook her head vigorously, blonde hair falling into her face. She hopped off the chair and grabbed his arm, pulling gently. "My turn, daddy."

Alan laughed and returned Jack to his feet, supporting the boy by his upper arms. "You okay, buddy?"

The little boy nodded and gave his father a quick hug around his neck. Alan patted him on the back and kissed his forehead before he pulled away. "Go pour some orange juice for mom, and I'll sort out the pancakes."

"Once Megan has had her turn." He added when the little girl tugged on his arm again.

It was easy to swing the little girl upside down, and she squealed with delight as he spun around once, twice. Alan turned her back upright and settled her on his hip. "Was that enough?" 

Megan nodded, one hand grabbing onto his t-shirt. He tried to brush her hair back into a semblance of normality but quickly gave up. Instead, he offered her the bowl of pancake batter. 

"Now, if you can hold that for me, we can make mommy's breakfast." 

The Alan Grant of fifteen years ago would have been terrified at the thought of cooking with a child on his hip, another standing at his side, ready to help. The Alan Grant of seven years ago would have been terrified! But by now, it was second nature. He had gotten skilled at performing simple tasks with children hanging off of him. 

It wasn't a smooth process, but the trio managed to cook up the batch of pancakes with minimal mess and zero injuries. Alan would call that a win. Jack had fetched the tray for his father and was arranging plates, cutlery and flowers in what he thought was the prettiest layout.

"Only the best for mommy!" 

"I agree, buddy, only the best. Can you go and grab her presents? They're in the office. Good boy." It had been a secret between father and children - the hidden bag of presents secreted behind Alan's desk. 

For the first time that morning, Alan realised that perhaps he would struggle to carry all of this upstairs. He had enough breakfast to feed an army - although sometimes his children ate like one. It was amazing how much food those small kids could put away. With a shrug, he piled the pancakes high across the plates. 

"Megan, come here, sweetheart." Alan lifted the apron from the girl and helped her to wipe her hands. "Think you can carry up the presents for Mommy?"

"Can I give them to her?!"

He laughed and nodded. "Of course, you can. But remember, they're from all of us, eh?"

Megan agreed, but he doubted the words had sunk in. Good thing the kid was cute - a real miniature version of her mother. However, the older she got, the darker her hair became - more like her father's. 

Alan made sure to supervise cleaning up the kitchen with eagle eyes, determined not to have a repeat of the 'flour incident'. Within a few short minutes, the trio made their way up the stairs with arms full of various goodies, little Megan leading the way.

"Remember," He pulled them aside just outside the bedroom door. "No jumping, okay? Be gentle."

Megan carefully opened the door, delicately tiptoeing her way inside the room. The boys followed, Alan smiling at the girl's antics. 

The room was lit by sunlight filtering through the closed curtains, casting a warm glow across the sleeping beauty in the bed. Ellie had moved to the centre sometime after he got up, curled up on her side, her blonde hair splayed across both pillows. He had to fight back the urge to laugh when he saw her mouth wide open in a silent snore. Ah, his sexy wife. Words couldn't describe how much he loved her.

Their children weren't so controlled, and both burst out giggling when they saw their mother. That was enough to wake Ellie from her slumber - thankfully, gently. Her eyes open, mouth closed, and she grinned at the sight that greeted her.

"Happy Birthday, Mommy!"

They had practised, and their timing was perfect. Alan balanced the tray he was carrying on one hand so he could return Jack's high five. 

"What a surprise!" Ellie laughed, turning to sit up in the bed. She patted the bed on either side of her legs, and the kids immediately climbed up to join her. "Thank you, my darlings."

Jack and Megan each gave their mother a hug and a kiss whilst Alan set their breakfast aside. The terrible twosome had firmly told him that presents were first. He grabbed the bag from where Megan dropped it and gently placed it on the bed.

"Forgetting something?" He gently poked the girl in the ribs, making her giggle. 

"Mommy! We got your presents for your birthday." Megan grabbed the big present from the bag and carefully placed it on Ellie's lap, glancing at her father for confirmation that she had been gentle enough. He smiled and gave her a nod.

"I guess this is one you want me to open first?" Ellie laughed, picking up the present. It was large, bumpy and relatively light. She thoroughly examined the package as Alan settled himself on the bed next to Jack. 

Two tiny heads nodded, and she tore into the packaging. The brilliant green fluff betrayed no secrets, and Ellie glanced at him in confusion. Alan just shrugged and smiled, gesturing for her to continue. A few seconds later, a stuffed triceratops popped free from the wrapping paper.

"Oh, wow!" Ellie grinned, stroking the toy along its beak as she had done to the real thing so many years ago. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"She's a girl!" Megan beat her brother to the punch, sticking her tongue out at him when he pulled a face. 

"And does she have a name?" She asked their son. Ellie was an expert at paying equal attention to both of their children. She was the perfect mother he had always thought she would be. 

"That's for you to decide, mom. We picked her for you 'cause she's smiling, see?" He pointed out the little stitched smile.

"I see that. Let me guess - your dad couldn't help but comment on the unrealistic color, could he?" There was a sparkle in her eyes as she teased him, and Alan winked in reply. 

Then Jack immediately told on him.

"Dad said that nobody knows for sure what color they would be, but he was sure they wouldn't be bright blue or yellow. So we picked green."

"All right, you little traitor." Alan ruffled the boy's hair, mussing it into his face. Jack giggled and tried to push him away. 

"I will have to think about the name. Maybe once I've had breakfast, hmm?" 

"More presents, then!" Megan was reaching for the bag again. The little girl enjoyed watching other people open presents as much as she enjoyed opening them herself.

The following presents were all things that Ellie had asked for; a particular botany book, a new pair of shoes, and a bottle of perfume. Alan carefully set each present aside so they couldn't be damaged, but the little nameless trike remained firmly on the bed. 

"Thank you, my darlings. I love my presents." Both kids moved in to cuddle their mother, but their attention was beginning to wander. 

They soon scurried off to raid the pile of pancakes he had brought. Alan took the opportunity to slip into the bed and cuddle up beside his wife, one hand resting protectively over her swollen stomach.

"Happy birthday, beautiful." He murmured, kissing her softly. He felt her melt against him, her hand resting on his stubbled cheek. 

"Mm, thank you, honey. And thank you for my surprise."

"It's not finished yet." 

"There's more?" 

Jack and Megan settled on the end of the bed, a plate of pancakes each. Neither paid any attention to what their parents were doing.

Alan reached under his side of the bed and pulled out a flat package wrapped in brown paper and a small black box. Settling back against her, he offered Ellie the flat gift first. She took it, eyebrows raised, and slowly tore apart the paper.

"The kids suggested it, and- Well, it sounded like a good idea." 

Ellie let out a laugh when she revealed what waited beneath the paper. "Oh, honey."

The 11x14 inch photo frame held a picture of Alan and the kids, each dressed in a brightly colored dinosaur onesie. Somebody else must have taken the picture because all three were standing in the middle of their living room, pulling a roaring pose - teeth bared, mouths open, and fingers bent into claws. 

It was the perfect picture.

"I love it. Thank you so much." She pulled him in for a kiss - which quickly turned into several kisses. 

"I'm not finished yet." He grinned and held up the black box.

"I don't need more, Alan. You know that. I have everything I could need." Her hand landed on her stomach, and he placed his own beside it.

"I know, but I couldn't leave this behind."

Despite her protestations, she was quick to open the box. She gasped when she saw what was inside, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "Honey."

Alan gently removed the amber ring from the box and took her hand in his. "I know that this particular substance has put us through a lot. But I couldn't help thinking about you when I saw it."

"It's perfect." She whispered as she slipped the ring on her right ring finger. "You've spoiled me too much."

"I could never." He insisted, shaking his head. "Look at all you've given me. These are nothing in comparison."

"Careful, Dr Grant. You might end up sounding romantic." Ellie teased him through her happy tears.

"I guess I am just an old romantic at heart. I think somebody might have told me that once upon a time."

"Oh really?" One of her hands slipped around his neck to play with his hair. "That person must have been smart to see that in an old fossil."

"Smartest woman I have ever met." His voice was barely more than a breath as he leaned in to kiss her. This kiss was not as soft as before - it held a promise of what would come when the kids were asleep that night. He had to pull himself away before he got too excited.

"I love you." Her fingers were still in his hair, and he had to take several deep breaths to calm himself.

"I love you, too. Now, how does breakfast sound?"

"Oh, yes, please. This little one is a hungry one, for sure." Ellie's hands rested on her stomach, and he couldn't resist touching her again. Their surprise child rested beneath - happy and healthy. 

"I'll make them all the pancakes in the world."