Chapter Text
Jamie had never expected much from his birthday.
For as long as he could remember, it had been just another day—no celebrations, no gifts, no one even remembering the date. He had never been the kind of person who made a big deal about it, and honestly, he had never had anyone who would have. But this year…
This year felt different.
Not that he expected anything. He hadn't told Peter or Mason. Why would he? It wasn’t their responsibility to remember. They weren’t obligated to celebrate him. Still…
As he sat at his desk, twirling a pen between his fingers, he couldn’t stop the quiet hope that flickered in his chest. Maybe—just maybe—they would remember. But as the day stretched on, nothing happened.
No "Happy Birthday, Jamie!" No knowing smirks, no teasing. Nothing.
Jamie told himself he shouldn’t care. But still… it stung. Just a little.
Peter was in the middle of an email when a small notification popped up on his computer.
Employee Birthday Reminder: Jamie – Today.
Peter froze. His eyes immediately flicked across the office, landing on Jamie’s hunched figure at his desk. The kid was completely quiet, not his usual fidgety, talkative self. Peter’s stomach twisted.
Jamie hadn’t said a word about it. And suddenly, Peter understood why.
Jamie never expected things like this. Because before them, he had never had anyone. Peter grabbed his phone and shot Mason a quick text.
Peter: Jamie’s birthday is today. He didn’t tell us. We’re fixing this. Mason’s reply came instantly. Mason: Shit. You sure? Peter: Positive. My system tracks all employee birthdays.
A pause.
Mason: …That little idiot didn’t think we’d care, did he?
Peter sighed. Peter: No. He didn’t.
A longer pause.
Then—
Mason: We’re throwing him something. Just us. Something small, but he needs to know we’re here for him.
Peter smirked. Mason got it.
Peter: Agreed. We’ll do it at my place. Balloons, pizza, cake, gifts. Something he won’t forget.
Mason: What are we getting him?
Peter already had an idea.
Peter: A tablet. One he can keep at our place. You know how much he borrows ours.
Mason: Perfect. I’ll grab a gaming headset for him. And some books—I know he’s been eyeing a few.
Peter nodded to himself, but then his gaze flicked toward the extra tickets he had sitting in his desk drawer. The baseball game in town.
Jamie wasn’t a huge sports fan, but Peter had seen the way his eyes lit up when they talked about baseball.
Peter: I have something extra for him. A baseball game—three tickets. For all of us.
Mason: Damn. He’s gonna cry.
Peter smiled softly. Yeah. He would.
Peter: Meet me at my place after work. We’ll tell him we’re doing a game night.
Mason: Done. He’s not gonna know what hit him.
Peter looked at Jamie again. The kid was so damn quiet, his shoulders slightly slumped, his foot tapping anxiously under his desk.
He had no idea. And that made it even better.
The Disappointment Before the Surprise. By the time the workday ended, Jamie felt… off. He had convinced himself not to care, but the silence hurt more than he thought it would.
Peter and Mason hadn’t said a word. Not even Mason, who always seemed to pick up on things without being told.
Jamie told himself it wasn’t their fault. They didn’t know. So when Mason appeared at his desk, looking casual as ever, Jamie forced himself to act normal. “Hey, you busy?” Mason asked.
Jamie frowned. “Uh, no?”
Mason smirked. “Good. Peter and I are having a game night. You in?”
Jamie’s heart jumped. He didn’t let it show. Instead, he just shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”
Maybe they didn’t remember. But at least he wouldn’t be alone.
The Surprise That Changed Everything. Jamie arrived at Peter’s house like always, but the second Peter opened the door, something felt different.
And then he stepped inside—
And froze.
Balloons.
Pizza boxes stacked on the table.
And right there—on the coffee table—wrapped gifts.
Jamie’s breath hitched. His entire body locked up. Mason leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking. “Surprise, birthday boy.”
Jamie couldn’t breathe.
He turned to Peter, who simply raised an eyebrow. “What? Did you really think we wouldn’t remember?” Jamie’s throat tightened. His vision blurred, and before he knew it—he was crying.
Peter pulled him in immediately, wrapping him in a tight hug. “Hey, kid. We got you.” Jamie clung to him.
No one had ever done this for him before.
Mason patted his back, his voice softer than usual. “C’mon, open your gifts before you get tears all over my damn carpet.”
Jamie sniffled, letting go of Peter, and sat down.
He unwrapped the first gift—the books he had wanted. His hands shook as he opened the next—a high-end gaming headset.
Then—
The tablet.
Jamie gasped, fingers trembling. “No way.”
Mason grinned. “Now you have one at our place. No more excuses for borrowing ours.”
Jamie laughed through his tears.
And then—Peter handed him an envelope.
Jamie opened it with shaky hands, unfolding the tickets.
His breath hitched.
Three tickets. A baseball game.
Jamie covered his mouth, his vision completely blurred now. “You—”
Peter smirked. “We’re all going. Thought you’d like it.”
Jamie broke down again.
And when Peter brought out the huge cake, Jamie couldn’t stop shaking.
He blew out the candles, tears slipping down his face, and when it was over, he pulled out his phone.
One picture.
The three of them, together.
Because this—this moment, this night, these two men— This was home. Peter and Mason exchanged a glance, watching Jamie absolutely glow with happiness. They loved him.
More than anything.
The warmth of the evening lingered as the last bits of cake were eaten, the pizza boxes emptied, and the laughter softened into something quieter, something more meaningful. Jamie was still glowing from the surprise, his face lighter, his eyes brighter than Peter and Mason had ever seen before.
Peter had been watching him all night, taking in the little things—the way Jamie clung to moments of affection, the way he needed structure, the way he needed them more than he probably even realized.
And it had been building inside Peter for weeks.
It was time to say it out loud.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, watching Jamie closely. “So, kid,” Peter started, his voice calm but intentional.
Jamie looked up from where he had been idly tapping his fork against his plate. “Yeah?”
Peter exhaled, giving him that no-nonsense look. “How about you move in with me?”
Jamie froze.
His fork clattered onto the plate.
He blinked, completely thrown off. “…What?”
Peter smirked, but his tone remained steady. “You heard me. You spend half your time here anyway. You’re crap at taking care of yourself, and frankly, I don’t trust you to actually eat anything but takeout if left alone for too long.”
Jamie’s mouth opened, then closed. “I—”
Peter continued before Jamie could argue. “I’m not saying all the time. Some nights, you can stay at Mason’s, too. That way, you don’t feel suffocated. But it’s clear you crave family life, even if you don’t realize it.”
Jamie stared at him, completely speechless.
Peter tilted his head. “What do you think?”
Jamie’s breath hitched. He swallowed hard. “I—are you sure?” Peter’s smirk softened. “Kid, I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t.”
Jamie looked at Mason, searching for something—maybe confirmation, maybe reassurance.
Mason grinned and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Actually, I have another surprise.”
Jamie blinked rapidly. “Another one?”
Peter smirked. “Oh yeah. A big one.”
Mason reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and twirled it between his fingers. “You know the flat right across from Peter?”
Jamie nodded slowly, his expression still confused. “…Yeah?”
Mason tossed the key onto the table. “I bought it.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped.
Mason chuckled. “You can’t just crash at my place whenever Peter annoys you, so now? You’ll just have to walk across the hall.”
Jamie gawked at him. “You—you bought it?”
Peter smirked. “Not just one bedroom, either. Two.”
Jamie shook his head in disbelief. “What the hell—”
Mason laughed. “Come on, kid. You didn’t seriously think you were gonna get rid of us that easily, did you?”
Jamie felt dizzy. This was too much. Too good. Too unreal.
Peter smirked. “So. You moving in or what?”
Jamie let out a shaky laugh and ran a hand through his hair. His eyes were wet, but he wasn’t crying. Not yet. “You guys are insane.”
Mason grinned. “And yet, you love us.”
Jamie swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all.
Peter leaned back. “You don’t have much to move, do you?”
Jamie snorted. “What, you mean my old couch, my even older TV, and my ancient bed? Not exactly a lot to pack.”
Mason smirked. “Then it’s settled. We move you in on Saturday—before we go to the game.”
Jamie shook his head, laughing quietly. “I—I don’t even know what to say.”
Peter smirked. “A simple ‘thank you’ will do.”
Jamie exhaled deeply, looked at the two men in front of him, and then—for the first time in his life, he felt it. He had a home. He had them. Jamie looked up, his voice soft but sure.
“…Thank you.”
Peter and Mason exchanged a look, both smirking.
Yeah. Jamie was theirs. And they weren’t going anywhere.