A/N: Yay! Another story! I really enjoyed writing the first one, and was absolutely blown away by all of the feedback and support I got in response! I think that this is going to be a really fun story to write, and I really hope that you all enjoy! I would, as always, love to hear what you think!
Disclaimer: If you recognize them, they're not mine. But some crashers are coming to the party, and I guess I'll take responsibility for them.
Let's get started!
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'Happy birthday, Adam!'
Twenty-two year old Adam Cartwright lifted his eyes up from his finished breakfast plate and stared into the grinning faces of his father and two younger brothers. There it was, just as expected, the recognition that he had known was coming ever since he had woken up that morning. Unlike his little brother Joe, who would have been hinting at his family that something important was going on long before breakfast had even been served, Adam had just waited patiently, knowing that he wouldn't be forgotten. It was the first birthday he'd celebrated at home since he had gone away to college, and he couldn't help the way the corners of his mouth turned upward in anticipation as he returned his family's smiles with one of his own.
While he was much too old now to launch himself into an excited frenzy over the fact that it was his birthday, Adam had to admit that there was a large part of him that was secretly eager for the attention. Birthdays and holidays had been lonely times when he had been away; a letter, perhaps a small token sent through the mail, but nothing like the celebrations he had remembered as a boy. Birthdays, especially his sons' birthdays, had always been important milestones for Ben Cartwright, and he had never been one to shirk on his responsibility as patriarch. Adam felt his face flush slightly, the nostalgic memories causing his anticipation to further increase, and he turned expectant eyes to his father.
Ben couldn't help the surge of pride he felt as he looked at his eldest boy. No longer a boy, he corrected himself, but a man who had proved himself time and time again. Whatever the young man had set in his sights he had accomplished, sometimes with little more than his stubborn pride and an unquenchable spirit that had refused to give up. It had been four long years since he had been able to celebrate his son's birthday properly, and the depth of the contentment he felt at seeing all of his boys together again didn't cease to amaze him.
His happiness tempered slightly as he felt a slight pang of guilt at the sudden memory of all the heartache his oldest had gone through, the childhood Adam had never been able to have due to circumstance. They had been hard, those early years; constantly they had moved about, and all the time spent building up the ranch, not to mention the loss of too many loved ones. But Adam had never once complained at his situation, the boy's sense of duty towards his family never once wavering. Ben had to blink quickly to push back the slight moisture that was forming in his eyes as he thought about how proud Adam's mother would be of her son if she was still alive. Swallowing quickly, he reached over and took his oldest son's hand, squeezing it tightly between his two work-worn ones.
'Happy birthday, son,' his voice repeated warmly, his hands squeezing Adam's hand tighter. He smiled as he looked into his son's brown eyes. 'The day is yours. What do you want to do with it?'
Adam lowered his eyes back to his plate, his face growing warm again with the slight blush at the pride he saw on his father's face. He hadn't really thought much about what he had wanted to do with the day, his general assumption being that he would be busy with some ranching task, as was usual. It took him a minute to find his words, and when he finally spoke they seemed to get stuck in his throat.
'Well, I hadn't thought on it much, but…'
'Me first!'
Adam didn't have to worry about his momentary inability to get his thoughts out, his words abruptly cut off by the almost-shrill squeal of his youngest brother. Joe, the complete opposite of his reserved, thoughtful older brother, had never been one to put thoughts before actions. He ran on his emotions, a boundless energy that often left his older family members wary of what the outcome might be. They had all learned, the hard way sometimes, that the only thing that any of them could expect from Joe was the expectation of the unexpected.
Adam couldn't help the amused smile as he watched the obvious excitement on the ten-year-old's face, Joe's bright green eyes sparkling mischievously as he poked a skinny elbow into the ribs of his older middle brother. Hoss's response to the jab matched perfectly the gentle teenager's personality, a mixture of teasing and adoration for his little brother on his face. His was almost a simple kind of loyalty, wise beyond his sixteen years; he was the perfect balance for the sometimes volatile interactions between his older and younger brothers.
Hoss couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped from his throat as he responded good-naturedly to his little brother's provocation, his hand quickly running through the unruly curls that crowned the little boy's head. Joe's face scrunched up into a scowl at the treatment his hair was getting, his reaction only causing more laughter to erupt from the gentle teenager. His pale blue eyes signifying his agreement, Hoss just nodded his head at his little brother. Joe looked from one brother to the other as his face broke into a huge grin, and moving quickly, he suddenly ducked his head under the table.
Reappearing from under the table, Joe lunged excitedly at Adam, shoving a small box at him. Adam smiled at his young brother's enthusiasm as he looked at the crudely wrapped package. The mischievous look returned to the emerald eyes as a suddenly bold smirk skittered across Joe's impish features.
'Happy birthday, Adam! I hope you like it.'
The tone in the young boy's words practically dared his older brother not to. Adam couldn't help the surprise he felt as he shot his little brother a puzzled glance. Joe dropped back down in his seat next to Hoss, his self-assuredness that indeed his older brother would like the gift evident in the cocky, almost defiant smirk he again shot at his oldest brother.
Adam just rolled his eyes at his brother's expression and then turned his attention to the small box, his fingers hurrying to pull off the brown paper. His brow furrowed and his lips pinching together, he couldn't stop the obvious confusion he felt from spreading across his features as he realized what was in the box. It was certainly a strange choice of a gift on his little brother's part: of all the things he possibly could have thought Joe might give him, a box of ammunition certainly was not anything he ever would have thought of. Somewhat bewildered as to how the young boy actually managed to get his hands on such a present, Adam couldn't help the rather surprised glance that he shot up at his father. But his father remained unfazed, his unreadable expression not betraying any emotions he might be feeling at Joe's choice of gift.
Getting no help from his father, Adam turned his attention back to closer inspect his little brother's birthday present. He felt his heart sink a little as he made the disappointing discovery that they weren't even the right bullets for his gun. His little brother had gotten him a gift that he couldn't even use. He sighed inwardly at the realization that he would have to make a trip into town to return them. Suddenly remembering that a response was expected, and, not wanting to hurt his younger brother's feelings, Adam quickly shifted his eyes upward to meet his little brother's excited gaze.
'Gee, thanks Joe,' his smile felt a bit stiff, and he earnestly hoped that he was doing an adequate job of hiding the slight disappointment he could feel beginning to build in his chest. 'It's great…thanks.' He felt a small measure of relief as he watched Joe's face break again into the triumphant grin, his bright green eyes suddenly sparkling as if they held a secret.
'Okay, me next,' Hoss then broke in, his large hand pushing his little brother, who had jumped back up again from his chair, gently back into his seat. He leaned forward on his elbow and handed Adam a slightly bigger, somewhat better wrapped package. 'Happy birthday, big brother. Hope ya like it.'
Opening the box his younger brother had just given him, Adam couldn't help the surprised look that again crossed his face. The new holster and gun belt were quite fine, the workmanship remarkable, and it certainly was a thoughtful gesture. But he just couldn't help the rather forlorn stare as he looked at the grossly practical, totally unnecessary object staring back at him. He thought of the perfectly fine gun belt and holster lying on the credenza by the front door and sighed slightly. Another pang of disappointment welling over him, Adam struggled to find the right words to say when his attention was suddenly diverted by the sound of a muffled snicker.
Adam's eyes darted up quickly enough to see Joe trying to stifle another giggle in his hand, his elbow jutting again into Hoss's ribs as he nodded his head in Adam's direction. Suddenly suspicious, Adam stared intently at his little brother as Joe's face paled slightly as he realized Adam had noticed him, the smile quickly falling from the little boy's face as he tried to regain his composure. Joe's now-solemn face couldn't mask the emotions completely, his mischievous eyes still twinkling green fire, and Adam turned quickly to look at his other brother. Hoss's face, too, had sobered quickly and he sat there solemnly, keeping his gaze even with his older brother. The tentative smile Hoss gave his older brother only piqued Adam's curiosity further, and the resulting confused frown furrowed his brow again.
'Whaddya think?'
Hoss's rather nonchalant question only succeeded in leaving his older brother even more bewildered. Adam sat perplexed as he stared at his younger brothers; his mouth unable to form the words he wanted to say as his confused brain suddenly began to put pieces together. He took a deep breath and, glancing up at his father's still unreadable expression, he forced a small smile as he answered his brother.
'I shall wear it with pride,' his voice resounded brightly, a genuine smile starting to form on his face. He was rewarded with a toothy smile from Hoss as Joe tried to unsuccessfully choke back another snicker. Adam turned his eyes again to his father as Ben abruptly cleared his throat.
'I guess that leaves me.' The stoic mask that had been on his father's face suddenly melted away as he grinned broadly at Adam. He pulled a neatly wrapped box from under the table and pushed it towards his oldest son. 'Happy birthday, son.'
Adam's hands shook in excitement as he fumbled to pull the cover off of the box. He had already put all the pieces together, but even the knowledge of what he knew to already be in the box wasn't enough to prepare him for what he found. His breath caught in a gasp as his fingers moved to trace the beautiful Colt revolver that was tucked securely in the velvet-lined case.
'Oh, Pa…'
His words faded away as he sat in silent awe, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. Adam looked up quickly at his pa, and his father's eyes met his as his father just nodded his head. Adam let his fingers trace softly over the carved handgrip, feeling the smoothness of the rich wood inlaid with ivory as it glided smoothly under his fingertips. His smile broadened as he looked at the barrel of the gun, intricately engraved, complete with his initials centered perfectly amidst the delicate designs. It was certainly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Adam was unaware as to how long he had been sitting leaned back in his chair, just staring at the magnificent weapon in his hand, not believing it was actually his, when the sound of his brothers' laughter suddenly interrupted his thoughts. He felt slightly self-conscious as his eyes met the rather amused expressions displayed on their faces. His father was the first one to speak.
'I thought that maybe it was time for my son to have a gun he could be proud of. What do you think?'
Ben's eyes were misty as he looked proudly at his son. Adam felt himself blushing again as he nodded his approval, his eyes diverting back down to the gun in his hands. Ben cleared his throat again, and Adam lifted his eyes back up and saw the start of a smile tugging at the corners of his father's mouth.
'I told you before, son, the day is yours. What do you want to do with it?'
Ben's smile broadened further, and Joe couldn't stop another smirk from crossing his face as he poked Hoss in the ribs again and nodded his head at their older brother. Adam dropped his eyes back down again and mumbled his reply.
'Well, I think that maybe I'm going to try a little target practice with my new present. It seems like I've been given everything I need.'
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Trust me. This chapter plays an important role later on in the story, I can assure you :)
