"Happy Birthday, Dean!" Mary said, placing the chocolate cake down in front of her son.
Dean's eyes were wide with pure joy. "The three is made of M&Ms!" Dean squealed.
"That was my idea." John winked at Dean. "And I put on the candles."
"My trouble making boys with their M&M addiction," Mary said with an affectionate eye roll. Dean and John just looked at one another grinning. "Now make a wish and blow out the candles, Dean."
Dean squeezed his eyes tight. "I wish I had a baby brother," He stated and blew out all three candles in one puff.
"So, Dean," Mary said interrupting the silence. Dean looked up from his matchbox cars and smiled at his mommy and two-month-old baby Sammy in her arms. "Your fourth birthday is a few days away. Are we going to have another chocolate cake with fudge icing and M&M decorations?"
Dean gave his mother a very confused look.
"No," he stated simply as if Mary had asked him a ridiculous question.
"Well, what are we going to do instead?"
"We already celebrated my birthday, Mommy."
It was now Mary's turn to look confused. "When?"
Dean rolled his eyes and moved to stand next to Mary. He put his hand on Sammy's head and looked up at Mary. "Last year, I asked for a baby brother. When Daddy and I were waiting for you at the hospital, I told him that I didn't mind that I'm getting my present a few months early this year. Daddy said it's because Sammy just couldn't wait to meet me, and I understood. I couldn't wait to meet him either. I told Daddy that it was the best birthday ever, even without M&M cake and toys and we didn't need to do any of that. He laughed and hugged me so I figured it was a deal."
"Well, your silly Daddy forgot to tell me this so I foolishly bought a cake mix and a bunch of toys a four year old would enjoy. For Daddy's sake, would you be man enough to accept them so he doesn't feel bad about forgetting."
"I can do that." Sammy reached a chubby little hand up and touched Dean's arm, letting out a hiccup. "I love you, too, Sammy."