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Tommy is alone.
It’s ok. That’s just how his life has always been.
He’s used to it, really.
Really, he’s fine.
After all, he’s lucky enough to have his friends, a roof over his head, and... loving parents.
Even if his parents are rarely ever home, and it feels more like an empty house than a home.
But he’s ok. He’s been doing this song and dance ever since he was ten, and his parents started going away on business trips more often and for longer periods. Leaving him all alone.
During the time his parents are gone, Tommy finds himself staying out of the house for as long as he can, not wanting to be inside the cold, unlived in house for longer than he needs to.
He’ll usually be with his friends from school, Tubbo and Ranboo. Although he's only known them for a little under a year, they all act like they've been friends their whole lives. They'll all either hang out at the local park or at either Tubbo's or Ranboo's houses. But never Tommy's.
Tubbo’s family is really nice, and so is Ranboo’s sister Niki. On two separate occasions, when Tommy would delay in returning to his house, both Phil, Tubbo’s dad, and Niki have asked him whether his parents were waiting for him at home. Tommy had just laughed awkwardly and said that his parents don’t mind him staying out for as long as he does.
(It’s a lie, of course. His parents don’t even know anything about his life.)
Though perhaps that was the wrong thing to say at the time, both adults showing various degrees of worry or concern.
But they never brought it up again.
Though when Tommy’s parents are home, however briefly, he makes sure to get home as soon as he can. He cherishes every moment he is with them, no matter how cold his parents’ affection towards him may be.
Tommy walks through the front door one day after school, shrugging his backpack off before untying his shoes. He’s excited today, and a little nervous. There’s something he’s wanted to ask his parents, and he’s hoping they agree.
He spots his dad in the living room, typing away on his laptop as usual. He doesn’t make any sort of hint that he sees Tommy.
“I’m home!” Tommy announces.
His dad hums in response.
Tommy sighs, used to the behaviour. He makes his way to the kitchen with the intent to find his mum. He hears her before he sees her, seemingly just finishing a conversation on the phone. He enters the room just in time to see her hang up.
“Ah, Thomas!” she exclaims when she sees him, beginning to type something on her phone. “There you are.”
It would be nice to hear “how was school” for once.
“Hey, mum,” he says, nervous butterflies flitting about in his stomach. “There’s something I wanted to ask-”
“Your father and I are going on another trip soon,” his mum says, and Tommy’s heart sinks.
“But... you just came back from the last one…” Tommy mutters with a sad frown.
“We’ll be leaving on Friday,” she continues, still typing on her damn phone. “We'll be gone for a few months.”
Friday?
But Tommy’s sixteenth birthday is the day after.
He wanted to ask his parents if they could go out that day, just the three of them. It didn’t have to be anything big or fancy, just a day where Tommy can finally spend time with his parents. A day where they can finally love him.
Tommy frowns, heartbroken. “But-”
But it’s like she doesn’t even hear him. “Of course, we’ll leave you some money so you can get yourself some food,” she says, beginning to walk out of the room, phone still in hand. “You should be fine while we’re gone.”
Why can’t she just listen for once? “But I-”
“Now run along and do some homework, or something.”
And then his mum leaves, footsteps fading away.
Tommy goes up to his room and lies in bed, the afternoon fading away as he grows numb.
He’s going to turn sixteen on Saturday. He hasn’t celebrated his birthday in years, and of course his parents will be too busy.
Their job is more important than their own child.
So important that they forgot about his birthday.
Tommy lets the tears silently flow. There’s no one to see them anyway. No one to care.
Looks like he’ll be on his own this year, just like every year.
He’s fine, really.
He’s used to it.
“So,” Tubbo says, stabbing a piece of lettuce with his wooden fork a few days later at school lunch. “What’s everyone doing this weekend?”
Ranboo shrugs nonchalantly. “Eh, nothing, really,” they say, taking a bit out of their sandwich.
“Yeah, me neither,” Tubbo says. The brunet then turns to Tommy. “What about you, Tommy? Got any plans?”
Tommy looks up at the attention, the staring contest with his apple slices broken from being addressed. “Uhm,” he momentarily fumbles. “No, I… don’t have anything on.” He tries to squash down the feelings of bitterness and sadness at the reminder. He pops an apple slice in his mouth, chewing as he says, “Why do you ask?”
Tubbo grins. “Well perfect! Why don’t you two come over to my place on Saturday? We can play games and stuff!”
Tommy chokes on his food. That day is his birthday…
Tubbo and Ranboo don’t know it’s his birthday.
He resists the urge to be upset about that. Not like he’s ever brought it up before.
Has he?
Besides, it’s not like they’d care.
Ranboo perks up. “That sounds like a great idea, Tubbo!” he says. “A day with just the three of us!” He speaks as if he’s rehearsed it, but Tommy doesn’t pick up on it.
“What time are we thinking?”
“Hmm, maybe around noonish?”
“That sounds fine! What do ya think, Tommy?”
Y’know, that does sound kinda nice… “Yeah, I’ll be there,” Tommy says quietly, going back to staring at the table.
Tubbo and Ranboo seem to pick up on his sudden change of mood. They exchange a look, but Tommy fails to notice. “Cool,” Tubbo says, seemingly not sure what else to say.
The lunch table falls silent after that.
Once lunch is done, the three boys split off to go to their separate periods.
By the end of the day, Tommy forgets all about their conversation.
Tommy wakes up feeling like shit.
He grabs his phone on his bedside table, squinting at the screen as it turns on.
Saturday 4 April, 12:06 pm.
Tommy sighs, dropping his phone beside him as he stares up at the ceiling.
It’s his birthday.
And the house is unbearably silent.
Tommy closes his eyes, a feeling of numbness growing in his chest.
He hates being alone.
…But he’s used to it.
He has to be.
Tommy lays there for the next few minutes, or hours, he doesn’t know. He should probably get up at some point, instead of wasting the day away lying in bed. But he can’t seem to move, not having the energy to even lift his arms. So he just lays there.
He hears the notifications on his phone sound off, a few at first, but then intensively, blowing up his phone with notifications. Tommy does his best to ignore them. It’s probably just his friends messaging him, but he’s too tired to reply to them.
(He feels like he’s forgetting something…)
The notifications eventually wear themselves out, and Tommy is able to fall into a light sleep.
There’s a knock at his door.
Tommy’s eyes open groggily. Despite the sleep he still feels tired.
He checks his phone.
3:18 pm.
Bee boy 52 missed messages, 6 missed calls.
Ranboob , 48 missed messages, 5 missed calls.
Crow father, 14 missed messages.
The Blade, 10 missed messages.
None from his parents, of course.
His phone rings.
Incoming call, Bee boy.
The knocking continues.
Tommy sighs, tapping on the “accept call” button.
“Tommy!” Tubbo’s voice sounds through the speakers. He hears an echo not far away. “Are you home?”
Tommy blinks, taking a second to process his friend’s words. “Yeah,” he answers, then frowns. “Wait, are you at my front door?”
“Why haven’t you been answering anyone’s messages?” Tubbo asks, and Tommy can hear the worry in his voice. “It’s like you just died on us, we’ve been worried.”
Tommy feels a little guilty. “Sorry,” he murmurs.
“We were waiting for you at my place-” Ohh, shit, he forgot about that. “-but when you didn’t show up we thought something must’ve happened. Phil’s even tried calling your parents.”
Tommy’s heart sinks.
“He was worried that you were home alone,” Tubbo continues, “So he drove me and Ranboo over here. Phil’s waiting in the car.”
“Hi,” comes a familiar voice faintly in the background.
Tommy huffs in silent laughter. “Hey, Ranboob,” he says.
“Anyways, ya gonna let us in?” Tubbo asks.
Tommy sighs, energy quickly draining. “Yeah, uh… There’s a key under… underneath the doormat.”
There’s rustling on the other end.
“Um, are you ok there, Tommy?” Ranboo asks quietly.
Tommy takes a shaky breath, resisting the sudden urge to cry. “Yeah, yeah,” he says, holding back tears.. “Just, um… Just let yourselves in. I’m in my room. Uh, when you enter the hallway, it's the... first door.”
“...Ok.”
There’s the sound of the front door unlocking before the call ends.
Tommy closes his eyes as he waits for his friends to find him.
He should feel more alarmed that his friends are in his house, should be worried that they can see how unlived in this house is. How empty, and lonely, he is. But he doesn’t have the energy.
He should be used to this.
A pair of footsteps approach his room, before the door slowly opens with a quiet creak.
His friends peek in the room, peering at Tommy with faces of concern. Tubbo takes a few steps forward. “Hey,” he greets softly, moving to sit down on the bed. “You ok, boss man?”
Tommy’s heart pangs. He doesn’t want his friends to worry about him. He moves to sit up, muscles protesting after not moving for so long. “Yeah, I-I’m fine,” he says, half trying to convince himself. “Sorry I forgot about the plans we made. I’m coming now.”
Ranboo frowns in worry. “Is… Is it just you here?” they ask. “When are your parents coming back?”
And for some reason, that's what does it.
Tommy breaks down, the tears spilling out before he can stop them. He sobs, curling up in a ball and hiding his face away in his knees. He hears Ranboo step closer, and Tubbo’s hands hover in worry. “Oh, Tommy, what’s wrong?” the brunet asks.
“They- They always do this,” Tommy wails. “They just- They always l-leave when I need them the most.”
Tubbo and Ranboo are silent as Tommy cries. “Who?” Tubbo asks. “Your parents?”
Tommy wails.
It feels like his heart is being ripped in two as he longs for something he’s never had.
He sobs, bringing a fist down against the bed sheets, gritting his teeth as he cries out. "I hate being alone! I hate it! Why does everyone leave me?! "Why do they always leave?!"
A part of him is ashamed of himself at letting his friends see him like this. Letting them see how pathetic he is.
Tommy has always been alone. He should be used to this!
But he isn't.
He feels a warm, comforting hand on his back, rubbing lightly, and Tommy leans into the foreign affection, despite himself.
After however many minutes later, Tommy’s crying grows quiet, dissolving into mere hiccups. “What did I do wrong? Why don’t they love me?” he croaks, sniffling. “Am I just not important? Am I not worth remembering?”
Maybe it would’ve been better if he had never been born at all .
“Tommy, look at me.” Tommy lifts his head, red puffy eyes meeting that of Tubbo’s. Ranboo is standing behind him, brows pulled down in concern and sympathy. “Listen, you are important, boss man," he says, Ranboo nodding in agreement. "Ok? You matter to us. And don’t let anyone make you think otherwise, understand?”
Tommy frowns, a protest forming on his lips.
“Oi!” Tubbo gives him a stern look, though still gentle. Still kind. “Stop thinking! None of this is your fault, ok? Your parents are the ones in the wrong. They don’t even deserve those titles after leaving you alone on your birthday of all days!”
“Tubbo,” Ranboo scolds quietly.
Tommy’s breath hitches, staring at his friends with wide eyes. “You… you guys remembered?”
Tubbo looks heartbroken for a moment. “Yeah, of course we did!”
“Oh, Tommy,” Ranboo murmurs with a sad frown. “Did you think we all forgot your birthday?”
Tommy slowly nods with a small whimper, feeling ashamed.
His friends look devastated. “Can we hug you?” Tubbo asks.
Tommy chokes down a sob, squeezing his eyes shut as he nods.
Tubbo wraps the blond in an embrace, Ranboo walking around to Tommy’s other side to do the same. Tommy sinks into their hold, allowing the tears to flow once again. He finds himself relaxing, relishing in the affection while it lasts.
Because when was the last time he ever experienced something like this? He can't even remember.
Tubbo’s hand cards through Tommy’s hair as Ranboo tentatively, carefully asks. “How… long are your parents gonna be gone?”
Tommy sniffs. “A few months,” he says. “They never specify.”
Ranboo goes still, and Tubbo squeezes tighter. “How long have they been doing this?” the smaller boy asks.
Tommy lets out a shaky breath. “I don’t know,” he mutters. “Since I was like… ten, or something…”
Ranboo and Tubbo both make noises of pain and sadness. “Oh, Tommy…”
The three boys stay like that for a while, sitting in silence as Tommy cries.
After a while, Tommy shifts out of the hug, wiping his puffy eyes. “Thanks, guys,” he says with a sniffle. “And, uh, sorry I forgot about the plans we made,” he adds. “Sorry for worrying you.”
“Don’t apologise,” Tubbo says gently, resting a hand on his shoulder. “The whole get-together was for you after all.”
Tommy frowns. “What do you mean?”
Tubbo and Ranboo exchange looks, having a silent conversation. After a few moments, they both turn back to Tommy. “The truth is, the get-together wasn’t just going to be the three of us,” Ranboo admits.
“We’re having a birthday party for you!” Tubbo continues with a smile. “We invited mine and Ranboo’s families, as well as some friends from school. We did try to contact your parents, but, uh…” Tubbo coughs, trailing off awkwardly.
“Well, it was going to be a surprise,” Ranboo says with a sheepish grin. “But we figured you needed some cheering up.”
Tommy remains quiet, stunned at the news.
His friends… his amazing, wonderful friends… they went through all the trouble to…
“You guys… did all of that… for me?”
Tubbo and Ranboo smile kindly at him. “Of course!” Tubbo exclaims.
“We love you, Tommy,” Ranboo says.
If Tommy hadn’t already cried all of his tears, he would’ve started up all over again. He laughs wetly, pure happiness and love exploding in his chest. He surges forward, wrapping his arms around his friends in a hug. “Thank you,” he whispers, squeezing tighter. He wants to make sure his friends know just how sincere he is when he says, “I love you guys, too.”
They eventually have to leave ("Phil's wondering where we are" Tubbo says after his phone buzzes). Ranboo and Tubbo leave the room so Tommy can get changed and make himself a bit more decent, before he grabs his phone and follows his friends out of the front door, out of the cold, empty house. Phil greets them from the driver's seat as they file into the car, Tubbo in the passenger’s seat, and Tommy and Ranboo in the back. The older man looks at Tommy as if to say, “are you ok?” and Tommy gives him a small smile in return.
The drive is short, as Tubbo’s house is only a fifteen minute walk from his own. When they arrive, the four of them walking inside, Tommy is met with an amazing sight.
A small crowd of people, all of whom Tommy knows to some extent, fill up the living room space. Tommy sees Niki and Jack, Purpled and Fundy from school, even Mr Sam and Miss Puffy are here! And he can just make out Techno, the introvert that he is, standing in the back.
The room itself is decorated in red and white, streamers and banners hanging off the windows and doorways. There’s a big banner stretched out from one corner of the room to the next, with big, bold words that read Happy Birthday Tommy!
Tommy has to take a minute or two just to process what he’s seeing.
When Tubbo said they planned a party for him, Tommy didn’t think it would be this grand .
He’s only ever seen birthday parties like this in the movies. Never has he thought he would be lucky enough to have one of his own.
And when everyone in the room cries “Happy birthday!” once they walk in, Tommy has to stop himself from crying all over again.
Tubbo and Ranboo smile at him, proud and loving.
And Tommy smiles back.
They all play games, open presents (more than Tommy has ever gotten in his life, holy shit!) and just have a ton of fun, before everyone gathers around to sing “happy birthday” as Tommy blows out the candles on his cake.
Tommy can forget about his parents for the time being. All of the missed birthdays and time lost doesn’t matter at this moment.
Because right now, Tommy has found a family who cares. And right now, on his sixteenth birthday, surrounded by his friends, Tommy couldn’t be happier.