In honor of Gaara's birthday, I'm writing him a fic. I have no plot in mind whatsoever, so I have no idea where this is gonna go. I'm sure it'll probably be crack.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gaara or any part of the Naruto series.

"Happy birthday Daddy!"

Gaara's eyes shot open, and he groaned as his two children jumped on his bed. Just when he was finally able to get some sleep, they run in and-

"Hey guys," he said, his voice deep as Emiko stepped into the doorway. She smiled at him, and he returned the gesture over his children's heads.

"Daddy, we got you presents!" Amaterasu exclaimed, sliding off the bed. Her curls bounced as she ran out of the room, and Gaara wondered again where she'd gotten those from.

"Hey buddy," he said quietly as his son wrapped his tiny arms around Gaara's neck. The man held his son carefully as he leaned forward and kissed his temple. Gaara could feel his heart give a squeeze at that, and he smiled at the tiny boy.

His attention was directed to Amaterasu again as she bounded into the room. She turned to her mother after unsuccessfully attempting to get up onto the bed with the gift in her arms, and Emiko lifted the squirming child up.

She smiled at her husband as their daughter babbled about the 'cash register lady'. His eyes were fond, and Emiko patted his hand as Amaterasu thrust the brightly wrapped box into her father's arms.

Gaara slid his arm out from under his son, watching the child stare at the box. He smiled a tiny smile as he offered to let the boy help. Gaara ruffled what little red hair Seiichi had as he tugged at the tape.

Amaterasu looked on with wide eyes as her father lifted the flaps of the box to reveal a little picture frame. He flipped it over carefully, wary of the tiny person by his elbow, and his eyes melted just a little as he saw a picture of the four of them.

Gaara was smiling in the photo, holding his son as he reached up to tug at his hair. Emiko was holding Amaterasu, and the girl was leaning over to grab at her brother. Neither Emiko nor Gaara were looking at the camera, but at each other, smiles in place and frozen on the glossy paper.

"Thank you," he whispered as Emiko leaned over their children to kiss him.

"You're welcome," she replied, laughing as Amaterasu crawled into her lap. "happy birthday Gaara."

He smiled at his family.

So it wasn't crack.