Chapter 3: Cupcakes and (Name)'s Birthday

Your phone woke you up at five in the morning.

"Hey (Name)!" Your coworker said cheerfully. "We need you to come into today." You sighed. It was a Saturday and you had been hoping to spend the day with your kids. So much for that idea…

"Okay, just let me call the babysitter." You said before hanging up on your coworker. You thanked your lucky stars that Hope had no social life.

~Hope's POV~

Hope, Natalie, and Flavio were lying on their stomachs, working on coloring some pictures when Oliver, Jacques, Lutz entered the living room.

"(Name)'s birthday is coming up," Lutz announced. Hope glanced up.

"What are you guys going to do?" Andrew rolled onto his side on the sofa.

"We have to do something?" Hope sighed.

"Okay listen up, you can't just mention that it your mother's birthday and then not do anything."

"And what do you suggest we do oh wise one?" Luciano snarled. A smile spread across Hope's face.

"Simple. We'll throw her a party. I'll call Lovino and Antonio to ask for their help."

"Should we have a cake?" Natalie asked. Hope shook her head.

"Nah, cakes are overrated. We'll make cupcakes instead."

"We're making what?" Oliver's adorable little face wrinkled up in befuddlement at the new word like he had just bitten into a fruit and wasn't quite sure yet if he liked the taste.

"Yeah," Hope explained, "they're like normal cakes but smaller. Cup sized." Lutz smirked and let his eyes rove over his babysitter's chest.

"Excellent." He said, leering.

"Go, get started then." Jason drawled without taking his eyes off the television.

"The only way you could have made that more insulting was if you told her to make you a sandwich." Lanzo muttered. Jason smirked.

"Thanks for reminding me."

~Later in the kitchen~

"We should put this in it," Oliver chirped as he handed a container of bleach to Hope.

"How about we don't and say we did." Hope said, carefully hiding the bleach so Oliver couldn't spike the cupcakes. Standing back from the sink, she took in her and Oliver's combined handiwork.

"We've done well, I think we're ready."

~Your POV~

When you came home from a long day at work, you were exhausted. Pushing open the front door, you realized that the house was completely dark. This unnerved you.

"Hope? Oliver? Jacques? Natalie? Anybody?" You called as you walked through the foyer and into the living room. "Hello? Is anyone here?" You flicked the lights on.

"Surprise!" A myriad of voices shouted at you. Oliver and Natalie popped up from behind the couch and hugged your legs.

"Happy birthday Mommy!" They said together.

"Feliz cumpleanos." Antonio said, hugging you.

"Buon compleanno, (Name)." Lovino said, holding a bouquet of (favorite flowers) out to you.

"Aw, thank you everyone," you said, smiling. Hope slunk into the kitchen unnoticed and came back with a platter of colorful cupcakes. Oliver picked up a blue and pink cupcake that matched his eyes and handed it to you.

"So, how old are you?" Andrew asked. Hope smacked him on the back of his head.

"It's rude to ask a woman her age." She reprimanded. Nickolas picked up a cupcake that look strikingly similar to him and bit into it. After much cupcake eating, it was time for Hope, Lovino, and Antonio to go home.

"Buono notte bella," Lovino said, kissing your cheek. Antonio went one better and kissed your lips. Hope decided just to give you a very tight hug.

"Do you need a ride home sweetie?" You asked her. Hope smiled and shook her head.

"Thanks but no. I already called someone."

"Who?"

"My boyfriend." You nodded, a playful glint creeping into your (color) eyes.

"Ah yes, the elusive male companion. I've heard so much about him yet never met him. I'm beginning to think he doesn't exist."

"Next time I babysit, I'll drag him along." Hope promised.

"Bye Hope!" Oliver said as he hugged her waist. Hope grinned down at him and patted his head.

"Bye Ollie."

Later, when it was time for bed, you were reading your children a storybook. Since it was a special night, everyone was allowed to sleep in your bed. Lanzo's small hands tugged at your nightshirt.

"Mutti, I love you." He muttered quietly. You smiled down at him and kissed his pale blonde hair.

"I love you too sweetie."

"Me too, Mommy!" Oliver trumpeted. "I love you lots!"

"I love you too." Sweet little Natalie announced. Nickolas muttered something that could be interpreted as, 'Love you.'

"We love you too." Flavio said, speaking for himself and his brother.

"And us." Andrew and Jason said not to be outdone.

"You drive a nice car and cook good food." Lutz said which was probably as close as he ever got to say the three most powerful words in any language. Jacques didn't say anything because he had already fallen asleep. You smiled at all the children who were awake.

"I love you all." You said.

"Will you all shut up and go to sleep?" Jacques asked exasperatedly. You smiled and kissed his nose.

"'Kay everyone, light's out." You said. Nickolas turned on his side, Flavio and Oliver fought to be the one to cuddle under your arm and Natalie snuggled next to you with her white teddy bear. You turned the lamp off.

"I discovered something today, Mommy." Oliver said from his position just beside Flavio.

"And what was that sweetie?" You asked.

"I really like cupcakes."

"Go. To. Sleep!" Jacques commanded, affectively stopping all conversation until Oliver and Flavio started giggling uncontrollably. Jacques huffed out an annoyed sigh. So much for getting any sleep.

Yeah so I might have introduced Oliver to cupcakes. Oops. Not my wisest decision ever… Anyway, happy birthday reader-chan! Or happy unbirthday… There's several billion people on this earth with an Internet connection, odds are someone will read this on their birthday.