Work Text:
Tubbo woke up on the floor next to his new sorting machine, the sun glistening through the windows. He found himself sleeping under some blueprints.
….Great.
He really needs to start making himself a proper house. With a proper bed.
After a quick stretch, the goat hybrid stepped outside. Tubbo found to his annoyance that his entire system had shut down due to over-stressing again.
….ALSO great.
Tubbo was on his way to fix that quick when he saw from the corner of his eyes a familiar little dragon with fancy shades and her sparkling crown. His daughter SunnySideUp it was, rushing at him chirping happily.
“Oh! Poppet!! Good morning,” Tubbo spoke excitedly. He picked his daughter up and spun her around. “How’s my sweet little princess doing today?”
“Pa pa pa!!! I gotta show you something!!” Sunny couldn’t contain her excitement, vibrating in her pa’s arms.
“Oh! Right now??” Tubbo sputtered.
He got the answer when his daughter leapt out of his hands and began to him to drag him away from his work.
“And close your eyes, pa! It’s a surprise!” Sunny demanded.
Well now that’s interesting. But Tubbo did what his daughter demanded of him anyways and covered his eyes with one hand.
Tubbo’s hooves and Sunny’s clawed feet clamored across the train tracks until they made it to what seems to be a small field. But Tubbo wasn’t so sure, since his eyes were covered and all.
“Alllllllmost there…..” Sunny skidded to a stop, giggling loudly. “OKAY! Open ‘em up, pa!!!”
Tubbo chuckled. His daughter was being super weird. But he did reveal his eyes anyways.
It was a small field with an organized group of picnic tables and some blankets in the grass. Flowers dotted the landscape, and balloons and confetti decorated the trees and tables. A massive banner - supported by fence posts - had different languages that all spell “happy birthday”.
But most importantly, there were MANY people and eggs that waited for him there.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TUBBO!!”
They all shouted in their own languages.
Tubbo couldn’t believe his eyes. He saw some of his friends from the Morning Crew, some of his team members from Soulfire, the president and ALL their kids!!
“Awwww what the hell?” The younger islander gasped, his voice cracking slightly. “What’s all of this, Sunny? Is this for me?”
His daughter nodded her head. “Yeah! It’s a surprise party for you, pa!!”
“Yeah, get over here Tubbo and join the rest of us elderly people,” Fit shouted over to Tubbo.
Tubbo gladly ran over to greet everyone. Pac jumped at him from behind and hugged him tightly.
“Did I mention all of you are AMAZING? Like, oh my god. This looks great!!” Tubbo laughed.
“You think this is impressive, wait until you see what stuff I cooked for you,” Chayanne proclaimed.
“Oh, and I helped decorate your cake, Tio Tubbo,” Empanada chirped.
Was Tubbo’s eyes already getting misty?
“You didn’t have to do this, guys, come on…”
“‘Course we did, Toby,” Phil smiled, patting Tubbo’s shoulder. “We banter a lot but we care about you.”
“It’s a good place to have your party, not too much lag, surprisingly,” Bagi mentioned.
“Awwwwwwwwww you people are so fucking sweet, my heart,” Tubbo gushed even harder.
“Now then! You want to have a little dance party first before the presents?” Bad chimed in.
Tubbo lit up. “Oh Oh Oh!!!! Can we play Elton John??? I’ve been dying to hear his music!!”
“Sure, Tubbo! Whatever you want!” Fit said, rubbed Tubbo’s hair.
“And-And we can get blackout drunk!!!” Pac cried out with excitement.
Everyone cheered in unison while Phil just cackled.
“Let’s fuck up this place!!!” Tubbo cheered, raising his hands into the air.
Again, everyone cheered in unison.
And “fuck up this place” they….kinda did.
No one really got drunk but the Elton John music was blaring and the appetizers were all delicious. Tubbo contemplated on asking Chayanne if he could cook for birthdays more often.
By the afternoon, everyone sat down in the grass on a bunch of picnic blankets, drinking wine. Tubbo, of course, was right in the center of all these islanders. Tallulah was right behind him braiding his hair and decorating his head with flowers.
The young dragon tugged a little too hard, making her godfather wince. “Wh-Whoa! Easy there, sweetie.”
“Sorry about that, Tio Tubbo!” Tallulah said. “I’m trying to make you look cute for present time.”
“I already feel cute, poultry queen, whatcha talking about?” Tubbo ruffled his godchild’s hair.
“Okay, princess, let’s, uh, give him space,” Forever called to Tallulah. “We have presents.”
Tubbo rubbed his hands together. “Oh hell yeah here we go!!”
Many presents were placed right in front of the younger man. Different wrapping papers and bows, some in bags.
“Holy shit there’s so many!!” The goat hybrid gasped. “Oh. I’m so Gina enjoy this-“
“Ah ah ah!”
One of Philza’s clawed hands pushed Tubbo away from the gift. “Before you drown in wrapping paper, we got something else for you.”
Tubbo tilted his head. “Oh, um. Okay.”
Sunny came running over with her hands full of signed book-&-quills. They dropped into her pa’s lap with a thud. They must’ve done 1 letter per person considering how many there were.
“Oh wow. That’s…a lot of books just for me, Poppet.”
All those books did look daunting. Tubbo was secretly dreading the fact he had to read OVER A DOZEN of these.
“Some letters for you, from all of us, pa,” Sunny beamed, her tail wagging.
Tubbo looked at the books, then his daughter, then to the rest of the people looking down at him. He sucked in a breath.
“Alright, Dyslexia, don’t fail me now,” the goat hybrid muttered to himself before opening up each book.
One after another, Tubbo slowly read every book, every page in them. All of them were equally sappy and very sweet. That, and a lot of inside jokes. Phil seems to really like labeling him as “twat”. That’s didn’t matter. Tubbo was already getting emotional.
After some more time, it seemed he was done reading only for Phil to hold up one more.
“Huh, I don’t remember seeing this one…” Phil examined the book before Sunny stole it right out of his hands.
“Oh it’s from me, it’s from me!” Sunny ran over to her pa and chucked the book into his lap.
“Uuuugh is that the last one?” Tubbo groaned. “I’m so close to crying.”
“This one is SUPER special, Pa, I’m sure you’ll like it,” Sunny had a huge grin on her face.
Tubbo picked up the book and looked at the title.
On the front reads “Dear Tubbo”. And used as a bookmark is a preserved rose.
…It can’t be.
Tubbo opened the book and his hand clamped over his mouth as he read it.
“Dear Tubbo,
I heard from someone that you are having your birthday soon.
I’ve never really grasped how special “birthdays” are. But from what I’ve heard, it has a lot of cake and presents. And you get to spend time with loved ones.
That sounds…very nice.
So, if you manage to get this letter, I hope you are having a nice time with your friends and family on your special day.
Also, I wanted to apologize for not being able to message you back. My boss has been very adamant on me working overtime to compensate for me being missing. It’s a little troublesome, sure, but I care for my job.
But I also care about you. I should be able to start sending you letters once my boss lightens his grasp on me.
Until then, Happy birthday, Tubbo.
Yours Truly,
Fred”
Tubbo felt his heart swell with warmth, a warmth he hasn’t felt in a very long time. Was he blushing? God he hoped he wasn’t.
But before he set down the book, he noticed that there is another page. He flipped to it and it read:
“P.S. - Odd question, but is your birthday being celebrated at your home?
It’s hard to navigate your factory sometimes but it is an incredible place.”
Wait what?
Tubbo looked up and, as if on cue, walking cross the train tracks was a familiar bear-shaped figure in a blue construction outfit. The person lifted their head, seeing Tubbo and ran over.
“FRED?!” Tubbo shouted, scrambling to his feet and ran over.
The two stopped when mere feet from each other.
Tubbo was beyond surprised, no, BAFFLED, to see his pen pal again. The same thing could said for the other people in the party. Sunny was smiling the entire time.
“You-what-how-….You’re HERE!” Tubbo exclaimed. “You’re right here! In my factory! I-I thought you got kidnapped again o-or you died! Like, for real this time. But you’re here and for god’s sake if this is all a dream I’m gonna fucking-“
Fred tapped Tubbo’s shoulder to get him out of his rambling.
‘I was able to find time out of work for a short visit,’ Fred signed. ‘A little someone was able to help me with that.’
Tubbo looked behind. No one seemed enthusiastic about telling the birthday boy that it was them who set up this birthday surprise. However, Sunny looked a little too chipper watching the two see each other again.
“You did this, Poppet?” Tubbo said, his voice warbling.
Sunny looked away, still smiling. “Mayyyybe.”
‘You have a good daughter, Tubbo,’ Fred signed. ‘I have not seen someone so considerate of others before. It was strange…but sweet.’
Tubbo couldn’t register what Fred just signed to him. But he needed to be with Fred just a little longer.
“Okay this is gonna be embarrassing,” Tubbo laughed, sounding close to tears. “But I want a hug. Like, right now.”
Fred silently nodded. He stretched his arms out and Tubbo, with no hesitation, launched into them.
The goat hybrid closed his eyes. It felt warm and safe. And he allowed himself to cry just for a little bit. This was an amazing birthday.
Tubbo stayed there for a bit, in a deep embrace, before he decided that maybe it was time of let go of Fred so he could go back to work and NOT get fired.
Tubbo stepped back and was ready to say thank you to Fred. Thank you for caring. Thank you for being here. Tubbo opened his eyes and then…
And then…
He woke up.
No longer did Tubbo find himself in a calm field with his friends and family and Fred, but instead on a moving train.
Outside was raining profusely. Next to Tubbo was Pac, deeply napping with no care. Other people were around him on the train as well, most of them also sleeping in their seats.
…so it was just a dream. Tubbo cursed to himself. That birthday was far too self indulgent to be real.
But maybe, just maybe, that could become a reality.
Tubbo closed his eyes again. Purgatory 2 was ahead of him and the others on this train. But he knows that he’s gotta whether through it.
He’s gonna get that well-deserved celebration. Somehow.