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Seeing that Way was reclined on the couch, starting to doze off as their newborn nursed from him, Pete smiled and knew he could put his plan into action. He’d been worried that he wouldn’t be able to, but when he’d gotten home that morning from his business trip, he’d found Way exhausted taking care of the kids. The baby had kept him up for most of the night and hadn’t settled until Pete came back. Her happiness at seeing him again after a few days had distracted her from whatever had caused her to fuss all night.
Pete had gotten plenty of sleep on the flight back, so he was ready for the day. With Way distracted by his exhaustion, Pete was able to get Martin ready to go out without his mate noticing. Once the baby had finished eating, Pete took her and helped Way clean up. Then he guided Way to bed while telling him that he’d take the kids out so Way could get some sleep. Too tired, Way just flopped onto their bed and mumbled in acknowledgment.
“Say bye-bye to Mama, princess,” Pete told the baby, making her wave a little in Way’s direction. Way did a partial wave back before just conking out completely. “Alright, let’s go,” Pete whispered.
He quickly got the baby ready, and with her bag slung over his shoulder and Banzai leashed up, they joined Martin at the door and headed for the car.
Martin insisted on helping put the baby in her car seat. As he buckled the little straps over her under Pete’s watch, he told his sister, “We’re gonna go help set up the special birthday surprise for Mama, Sally!” Delighted by Martin’s excitement, the baby smiled up at him and reached for him, cooing. Martin kissed her cheek, giggling. To Pete, Martin said, “I told Mama happy birthday this morning and he just said ‘okay’ to me.”
“Mama is very tired,” Pete explained to the now pouting pup. “We’ll let him get lots of sleep while we help everyone set up the party. Then you can say it to him again.”
“We’re gonna help Uncle Alan and everybody have a party for Mama’s birthday, Sally! You can watch, okay? You’re too little. I’ll help lots for you!”
Pete ruffled Martin’s hair, proud of him for being such a sweet older brother. “Let’s get you buckled now, little one."
-
They got back just in time, Way having woken up from his long nap not long before and just stepping out of the shower. He looked much better after a couple hours of sleep and time to take a proper shower without having to worry about the baby needing something. As Way took his time getting ready, Pete reminded Martin not to spoil the surprise. Martin pressed his finger to his lips and giggled, nodding to let him know he promised not to tell.
Way took the baby back once he was all done, Sally mewling for his attention once she realized he was sitting next to them on the couch. Pete could tell as Way touched him while being given the baby that Way had zero clue of what day it was. He clearly hadn’t been paying attention at all or even been fully awake when Martin had said happy birthday to him that morning. All he was focused on was the baby and that he was happy that Pete was back home again. “Please don’t fuss again, pup… Did she sleep at all for you? Did she eat?”
Martin had spent most of the time over at Alan’s house playing with both Sally and Prince, acting as a sort of little babysitting for the two youngest members of the pack while everyone else got things ready. None of the pups had gotten any sleep then.
“Only a little on the drive back. Maybe fifteen minutes. She must be ready for a nap, now. I gave her a bottle an hour ago.”
“Okay. You need to sleep now, pup.” Way got up so he could rock her more easily. “It’s naptime.”
Martin got up too, smiling wide. “You should read her a story! I’ll get a book!” The pup ran off to go find a suitable book for his sister. He quickly returned with one, and Way sat down with the two pups to read it.
Both kids fell asleep on top of him, trapping him on his chair. But instead of trying to get help from Pete to try to move the kids to their crib and bed so they could nap properly, Way simply relaxed and dozed off again.
Pete’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He checked to see the text he’d gotten and was glad to see it was from Alan, saying that Charlie had just gone to pick up Sonic from the airport. Way’s friend had made it back in time for the birthday party the pack was planning for the younger Enigma. He sent back a picture of Way and the kids sleeping, saying that once Sonic was there and the three had woken from their nap, he’d bring Way over.
-
Sally woke up first, whining for food and waking up her brother and mother. Martin wandered off while Way sat up properly to feed the pup. The baby didn’t eat too much even after Way tried coaxing her to take a full feeding, leaving Way sighing and slumping over where he was sitting. Pete smiled and took her, telling Way, “Alan asked us to head over to his house for a while. What do you think?”
“Alright. Maybe she’ll eat more after the drive. Martin will like playing with Bobo. I didn’t get to spend much time with him yesterday.”
It was so sweet how focused Way was on the kids. North liked to tease that Way was obsessed with them now that the baby was born, but Pete just loved it. His mate was so much happier with their little family of four. Way had been so worried he wouldn’t be good with Sally, as figuring out stepparenting to Martin had been quite an adjustment for him after everything that had happened with the Foundation, but he was perfect with the baby. The kids both adored Way, and he seemed to thrive off of having two pups that relied on him and had endless amounts of love him.
So the birthday party was sure to go over well. Things were good now between Way and the pack, and Alan had suggested they do a party at his house. For Way’s previous birthday, things had been very strained still, so he and Martin had done a more simple celebration at home with him. A cozy day in and some presents, Pete making some drinks for Way, and then dinner at Way’s favorite restaurant.
Now they could have Way’s pack, his whole family, there. There wouldn’t be any drinks for Pete to make this time, as Way was breastfeeding Sally now. Alan and Babe had gone and picked up food for everyone, including stuff from Auntie’s place. And it was likely to get a bit chaotic, far more than last year’s quiet celebration where the loudest part had just been Martin happily cheering for Way’s birthday, but Pete had a feeling Way would really love it. He hadn’t been out much since the baby had arrived, and although everyone visited pretty often, it’d be great for Way to see his friends all in one spot again, to hang out at Alan’s like he’d used to.
They headed over to Alan’s, Pete and the kids for the second time that day, Way for the first time since before Sally had been born. Pete texted Alan that they were on their way there, and Alan sent back that they were almost completely ready. Pete promised to try to stall Way once they were there.
He didn’t even have to. Sally wanted to be fed again as soon as she was lifted from her car seat, so Way went into Alan’s living room and settled down on the couch. It gave Alan and the others the time they needed. Way bounced Sally afterwards, playing with her. A few times members of the pack would have to sneak through the room, but Way didn’t notice at all, his eyes solely on the baby and Martin whenever the boy wanted his attention too.
Pete gave Alan the go ahead. Soon, Sonic snuck up behind the couch. Way didn’t even notice, wiping Sally’s face clean after she started drooling on herself. The young Alpha wrapped his arms around Way, loudly going, “Happy birthday, Phi!”
“Sonic! I didn’t know you were back!” Sonic came around to give Way a full hug, careful not to make Sally uncomfortable.
“Happy birthday, Mama!” Martin cheered, excited to finally stop keeping it secret. “Surprise!”
Sonic patted Martin’s head. “The surprise isn’t yet, noo!”
“It’s my birthday? I had no idea.” Way looked between them. “You and Martin didn’t even say anything! How long have you been planning this?”
“Of course you didn’t notice. I know you were spending the day with this little princess. Come on!” Sonic tugged Way up. He took Sally, complaining that he had to hold her because he hadn’t gotten to see her since she was just a day old. It’d only been a few weeks since the baby had been born, but to Sonic that felt like forever.
Everything was set up in the backyard. The whole pack was there, with the small party all set up and in swing, with lights and music and food to try to replicate their usual team celebrations at their favorite club. Way was shocked to see everyone there for his birthday, and Pete grinned as his mate absolutely lit up, excited. North rushed over to hug Way, then Alan did as well.
“We didn’t get to do your birthday last year, so Uncle and Pete got everyone to do all this,” Babe told Way as he and Charlie came over to talk to them. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. I can’t believe you’re all here.”
“Of course we’re all here, Way,” Alan said. “We’re family. Now, Sonic, stop hoarding the baby. I want to hold my niece too, you know! I have to tell her what a good job she did keeping Way distracted.”
“Sally kept Mama up all night!” Martin told them.
“Well, I won’t thank her for that. Just for the stuff today.”