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Teddy hadn’t expected the server to do anything to celebrate the day he first arrived on the server. They’d gone so over-the-top for his fourth birthday he had no reason to think they’d celebrate him again like that for a long time. Teddy had severely underestimated his Papa, Daddy, and whole family.
The creeper hybrid woke up to a perfect breakfast spread of all the fruits he could ever want. There were even balloons in the kitchen and a little banner that he couldn’t quite read.
“What’s that say?” Teddy pointed at the green lettering neatly painted on the cloth.
“It says ‘Happy Gotcha Day’ little dude!” Daddy cheered. Teddy only pouted in confusion, not quite sure what that meant.
“It’s been one year since you came to Hermitcraft, Schatz,” Papa explained, sensing the boy’s confusion. “So we’re having a little party here before we have a big party with everyone later! We’re going to have a joint party to say happy birthday to your friend Hermes and gotcha day for you!”
“Both today?” Teddy looked up worriedly.
“Yeah!” Daddy smiled.
“But, Hermes… he won’t be mad about a party on his day?” Teddy pulled at his shirt.
“Of course not!” Papa reassured him. “His Papa and Daddy and Aunt Lizzie are giving him a birthday breakfast just like you get a special breakfast and we are going to have a big party later on for the whole server later, okay?”
Teddy nodded, but he was still a little worried. Nobody else had two days where they got cake and balloons and parties like this. Would Hermes really be okay with it?
Teddy didn’t voice this growing concern as he ate his big bowl of fruit or got ready for the day. It was only just as they were leaving the base the little boy tugged at his Daddy’s pants.
“I don’t want to make Hermes' birthday less special if people are gonna party for me,” Teddy whispered.
Daddy bent down to look Teddy in the eyes. “Little Dude,” Daddy cupped his face. “It’s very special to have two awesome things happen on the same day! I promise, it’s going to be okay.” Daddy kissed his cheek.
Even with the reassurance, Teddy clung to his Papa and Daddy as they entered the party. His packmates came over to say hello and celebrate one year since his arrival on the server, but Teddy was too nervous to give them much thought.
Finally, the trio made their way to where Hermes and his Papa were stationed near the food table.
“Teddy!” Hermes signed, running up to wave at the creeper hybrid.
“Happy birthday,” Teddy whispered.
Hermes turned his head curiously at Teddy’s sudden quietness. While Teddy was not nearly as loud as Poppy or the other kids on the server (and likely never would be that loud), he’d come out of his shell a lot over the past year.
The blond boy signed something to Teddy, but the creeper hybrid wasn’t quite good enough at the language yet to catch all of it.
“He asked if something was bothering you,” Uncle Sausage supplied.
“Little Dude’s worried celebrating his one year since he arrived on Hermitcraft would overshadow Hermes’ birthday,” Daddy clarified, brushing Teddy’s hair out of his face in a way Daddy knew was comforting.
“Oh, of course not!” Uncle Sausage explained. “Just means twice the fun, right mijo?” Sausage leaned down to kiss Hermes on the cheek. The little boy nodded excitedly.
Teddy only stared, trying to make sure they weren’t just saying that to be nice. He couldn’t find any trace of insincerity in their faces, though.
“I know!” Hermes signed, running over to the table where a few of the pack members had set up art supplies. Teddy followed curiously, weaving around adults to get to his friend.
He watched intently as Hermes grabbed scissors and paper and as many colorful markers as possible. Hermes folded the paper and started cutting it up and coloring it. Teddy was thoroughly confused as his friend worked, he had no idea what the boy was creating
Finally, Hermes turned to Teddy and presented a piece of paper that Teddy had to try hard to read. He’d only just started learning to read, and Hermes’ handwriting was not the kind of letters he was used to. “Best birfbay gift?” Teddy slowly sounded out.
Hermes nodded enthusiastically before placing the paper on Teddy’s head. Teddy hadn’t even realized Hermes and cut the paper into the shape of a crown until he gently settled into place.
“Oh,” Teddy whispered. Hermes thought he was the best gift.
Hermes grabbed Teddy into a massive hug that the creeper hybrid melted into.
Maybe someone really could share a birthday.
It took a lot of digging through old shulker boxes left on his Papa’s creative testing world (which also doubled as storage of items between seasons) to find the old paper crown. It was far too small to fit Teddy now, he smiled sadly as he examined the lovingly colored piece of paper. The spelling was nearly illegible (5 year olds are not known for mastery of spelling, after all) but it was perfect all the same.
Tucking it safely in his inventory, Teddy made his way back to the portal off the server so he could get back to Hermitcraft. He had a birthday party to attend, after all.
One would think the hermits would get tired of the sheer volume of birthday parties they had, especially in the past few months alone. But the pack was excited as ever to celebrate today, especially since there were two very special pack members being celebrated. Teddy usually opted for a simple cake and dinner with family for his birthday nowadays. It wasn’t everyday a baby celebrated their first birthday, though, so Teddy was excited to help plan the most spectacular party ever.
It was this time last year Hermes had sent a message that he and Poppy wouldn’t make it to birthday dinner, after all. Only a few moments later that message was followed by the announcement that their baby had finally been born.
Teddy felt incredibly lucky to share his birthday with his niece. He was never one for the spotlight to begin with, so he was more than willing to share with the giggling one-year-old squirming out of her mother’s hold.
“Yeah, I know,” Poppy bounced the baby. “You’re so excited to see Uncle Teddy, huh?” She cooed as the creeper hybrid approached.
“Happy birthday Frankie!” Teddy smiled, holding his arms out so Poppy could transfer the wiggling infant to her favorite uncle. The baby babbled to herself as she snuggled into Teddy’s fur.
“I think she’s saying happy birthday to you, too,” Poppy ran a hand through her daughter’s dark curls.
“Wait!” Teddy tried to shift the infant so he could reach his inventory, Poppy’s remark reminding him of what he went to get.
Gently, Teddy tried to adjust the paper crown on his niece’s head, folding it a little so it wasn’t quite so big on her.
“What is that?” Hermes and Poppy’s little boy Oscar signed, appearing seemingly out of nowhere with his out-of-breath father in tow.
“No way!” Hermes signed, stepping closer to get a better look at Frankie’s new crown. “You kept it?”
Teddy shrugged, “Of course I did!”
Hermes couldn’t help the tears from welling up in his eyes as Teddy adjusted Frankie so the whole little family could see the writing.
“I gave your uncle this crown his first gotcha day. Did you know your Uncle Ren and Uncle Doc adopted Teddy on my birthday?” Hermes explained to Ozzie. The little boy shook his head.
“And I thought it was time this gift got a new life with your sister,” Teddy explained, trying his best to sign with one hand still holding on to the little girl.
Frankie cooed, reaching up to touch Teddy’s face as he talked. Teddy smiled, knowing the words on her little paper crown were true: she really was the best birthday gift.