It was rare for Dylan to see his stepfather making such a big breakfast. Or at least so many different kinds of food. And with such a cheerful disposition. His stepfather was usually normal when making them breakfast, but this morning he was practically hopping in place.

"You're really happy this morning, Baba," Dylan worded aloud his observation.

"Hmm?" Yao hummed at first.

"And you're cooking a lot," Dylan added.

"It's all Xiang's favorites," Yao answered, putting a lid over his pan.

"Why?"

Now it was Yao's turn to give a curious look. He questioned if Dylan was serious, but the blank look on the 9-year-old's face was genuine; Dylan really had no idea as to why.

Yao paused for a moment before saying, "Today's the first of July aru."

Dylan still looked blank.

Another pause before Yao asked, "Did Xiang never tell you when his birthday was…?"

The two stared back at each other, nothing but the sizzling of the pan filling the silence.

Dylan slammed his hands on the island, up off his seat. "It's his birthday!?"

Yao silently chuckled at Dylan's shock. "After all this time, he's never once mentioned it?" Yao asked, but Dylan was too busy freaking out.

Dylan rustled his hair in frustration. "What are we gonna do?" Realizing that if he didn't know about Xiang's birthday, then his siblings didn't know either.

The Australian boy hopped off his chair, rushing up to get the others. He knew Xiang was still asleep (or at least won't come out of his room until much later), so that meant they had some time to do… whatever they were gonna do.

Dylan barged into the twins' room. "Wendy! Peter! Get up! Sibling meeting, urgency X!" Before he even made sure the twins were up, Dylan was already off to find Steven. Though, he barely needed to leave the room, Steven having overheard him and already meeting him outside the door.

"What's going on?" Wendy yawned, wiping her eyes as Dylan pulled Steven in and closed the door.

"Is something wrong with Xiang?" Peter asked, recalling their code.

"You guys," Dylan dramatically started, "today is Xiang's birthday."

The room went silent.

"Eh!?" all three younger Kirklands shouted when the news finally sunk in.

"I know! Baba just told me this morning!" Dylan cried. "What are we gonna do!?"

All four started to panic. Xiang did so many awesome things for them, plus gave them super cool presents for their birthdays and Christmas. What were they going to get him?

As the commotion went on in the twins' room, Xiang peeked out of his. Dylan was the loudest kid in the house; he'd have to be a block away not to hear the boy's cries.

Xiang walked up to the closed door, first listening a bit from the outside. There was some whispering, something from Steven about Dylan being too loud. Yeah, that was about right. So was the smack he gave him. When Xiang knocked, he heard them all yelp and suddenly stop talking. "Everything alright in there?"

"Y-yeah! Everything is peachy!" Dylan stuttered.

Xiang looked down to share a blank look with Long, his Doberman beside him. They didn't believe them one bit, but still responded, "Alright."

Shrugging off his stepsiblings– Xiang's gotten used to their antics– the teen headed downstairs. There, he was met with both his parents.

"Happy birthday!" Yao called when seeing Xiang walking towards the kitchen.

"Xiang, you never said anything about your birthday," Arthur whined, Yao just telling him minutes before Xiang came in.

Xiang gave an even more deadpan stare. It being too early for this, Xiang turned on his heal and was prepared to head back to his room. Yao, having known he'd attempt such a thing, stopped him right away. His father had grabbed his shoulders, guiding him towards the island.

"Oh no you don't," Yao said as he sat Xiang down. "You're 15 now. What do you want to do today?"

"Nothing," Xiang mumbled, already starting his breakfast. They were his favorites.

"Nothing? At all?" Arthur asked. "We could eat out–"

"No, I'm making Xiang noodles," Yao cut his husband off.

"Okay…" Arthur responded with slightly furrowed brows. He turned back to Xiang. "How about going out someplace?"

"I'm good," Xiang answered.

"We could see a movie."

"Nothing's out."

"Mall?"

"No, thank you."

"…Any games you haven't gotten yet?"

Yao sighed, taking Arthur's arm. He lead his husband away from the table, getting out of earshot range. "It's best not to go out out when it comes to Xiang's birthday," he explained. "Xiang really tends not to like celebrating his birthday," Yao added, turning back to his son. Xiang's back was to them as the teen ate, oblivious to the worried looks given by Yao.

"But kids love their birthdays," Arthur responded, brows furrowed in confusion. "Didn't he, too?"

"Well…" Yao drawled, pitch higher as his eyes looked someplace else. He started recalling Xiang's past birthdays, unable to think of one his son absolutely loved.

When Xiang was still a toddler, his birthdays tend to end similarly like the family Christmas: hidden and kept quiet to avoid Yao's parents' criticism. Even when he was older and when they moved, Xiang didn't have much of a celebration. At the time, Yao was immersed in summer school during college. And since it was in the middle of summer, Yao's friends who liked Xiang would be on some trip and unable to celebrate. Same with Yong Soo and Hyung Soo, going back to Korea during summer.

"Xiang grew used to not doing anything on his birthday," Yao guiltily finished saying to Arthur. His husband was just speechless.

"Well, Hyung Soo and Yong Soo are here now," Arthur said. "Xiang could invite them over, or go out with them?"

"I'm good," Xiang answered as he passed his parents, having quickly finished up his breakfast. "They're busy."

"What do you mean they're busy?" Arthur asked, brows furrowed.

"They're busy," Xiang called on his way upstairs. "I called if they were free last week, they say they weren't."

"Did you even mention it was for your birthday?" Arthur asked. Knowing Xiang…

"It didn't come up," Xiang responded from the second floor.

"Do they even know your birthday?" Yao asked this time. Xiang didn't respond at this. Yao knew exactly what the silence meant. "Xiang! What, 9 years and they don't know!? Did they ever ask!?"

"I told them," Xiang answered.

"Which day?" Arthur asked.

"January 1st, December 25th, stuff like that…" Xiang more quietly answered.

Both Yao and Arthur sighed.

"Happy Birthday!" they heard next before a giant crash, rushing upstairs.

On the second floor, Yao and Arthur found Xiang collapsed on the floor with all four stepsiblings on top.

"What do you wanna do today!?" Peter excitedly asked.

"Because you always do what we want, we're gonna do what you want!" Wendy added.

"And for all day, too," Steven finished.

"Just say the word and we got you, brother!" Dylan finished.

"Okay," Xiang started, "first, get off me."

The kids blinked at his request before realizing they were crushing their brother. Giggling, they all quickly got off. But before Xiang could get up, Long decided to plop down on his lap. More giggles erupted, Yao and Arthur laughing a bit themselves.

"Oh! And we also made you this!" Peter said, pulling out their last minute present and handing it to Xiang.

Xiang looked down at his present. It was wrapped with construction paper and tape. He smiled at the childish attempts.

"Careful when you open it," Wendy said, she and the others excitedly waiting for him to open his gift.

"I hear you," Xiang said as he started tearing the paper. He pulled the gift from its wrapping, a handmade coupon book.

"We made it ourselves," Steven shared the obvious.

"Look it! Look it!" Dylan yelled, already opening the book up for Xiang and showing him what was in it. "There's a 'go away' coupon, a 'quiet for 3 hours' coupon, a 'get me this' coupon, a 'stop fighting' coupon..." He went on and on with the many coupons they made.

"Just choose which of us to use the coupon on," Steven instructed, pointing to the 'name' line.

Both Arthur and Yao were silent. At first, they loved the endearing idea, but after hearing what the coupons were for, they were speechless.

Xiang on the other hand was shaking as he was silent. He then started chuckling, holding down his laughter, before cracking up. It was the most the kids and Arthur ever seen him laugh.

"Do you like it!?" Peter asked, eyes wide with sparkles.

"Yeah, I love it," Xiang said, wiping a tear. He noticed the kids' smiles grow wider, thinking it was because of how he loved the gift. He didn't know it was because of his own smile.

"And and and!" Dylan started up again, "we're gonna do whatever you want today! No questions, whines, or fighting!"

Xiang let out another, smaller laugh. This again. "Okay, well any ideas first? It'd help me a lot hearing some suggestions."

All four kids put up their thinking faces as Xiang turned to give Arthur a smirk that said 'see, I didn't need to think of anything myself.'

"Ah ha ha," Arthur sarcastically laughed as Yao just chuckled.

"We should make a cake!" Wendy suggested.

"Alright, there we go," Xiang instantly agreed. "Good enough for me."

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked. "Just that?"

"Yeah," Xiang responded. "Cake's good."

"And we can make it from scratch," Steven also suggested.

At this, Xiang froze. His mind went back to the last year's Mother's Day pancake disaster.

"I'll help out as well," Arthur said when noticing Xiang frozen. "To keep things clean and everything."

Both Xiang and Yao went pale at this. Arthur. In the kitchen.

"How about you look for a recipe and I help?" Yao suggested, though there was no way he'd take no for an answer.

"I think that would be best," Xiang seconded Yao's suggestion.

The kids jumped up. "Then let's go!" Peter shouted, already taking off to find their family tablet.

As Dylan and Wendy followed Peter, Steven turned back to Xiang. "All you need to do is relax. We'll make you the best cake!"

Xiang smiled again. "I'm sure you will, but I can still help—"

"No!" Dylan shouted, suddenly reappearing. "You stay out of the kitchen! That way, you don't need to work and it'll be a surprised!" With that, he shooed Xiang back into his room while dragging his parents down to the kitchen as well. It was going to be a family present!

Because the whole family was baking— even Long joining the group— Xiang found himself left alone once again for his birthday. Which he liked. He was always alone, so why would he be bothered if it wasn't the same.

Xiang sat quietly on his bed, playing a new game Kiku had sent him for his birthday. Yep. Another birthday playing silently in his room.

Despite loving video games, Xiang couldn't help but sigh and put the handheld down. He just wasn't into the game at the moment. Instead, curiously, Xiang snuck out of his room and carefully down the stairs. He peeked over the railings, face blanking when seeing there was already a mess.

"Dylan, that's too much sugar!" Yao yelped.

"More sugar the sweeter!" Dylan reasoned.

"It'll turn an ugly brown if you keep mixing the colors!" Wendy scolded Peter.

"No! I'll be rainbow!" Peter yelled back.

"We have to separate the mix if you want different colors," Steven said, trying to come to the rescue.

Arthur was off to the side, watching the mayhem. He was put in charge of reaching for things on the shelves and stuff, nowhere near the baking. Because he was scanning the kitchen, making sure the sibling arguments didn't rise to anything worse, he spotted Xiang watching from the stairwell.

Arthur then thought about how Yao had said Xiang always spend his birthday by himself. It still didn't feel right to him, even if Xiang liked being to himself. He then recalled something he remembered Xiang saying during Steven and the other's four-way birthday. Xiang did think about parties as child. Coming to a decision, Arthur excused himself and made his way to Xiang.

Xiang didn't notice Arthur heading his way at first, attention on the kids, until his stepfather sat beside him.

"Hello there, lad," Arthur greeted with a smile. "How're you treating yourself today?"

Xiang turned back to his fidgeting hands. "Fine…"

"Why don't we do something today?" Arthur suggested. "Something you want to do that you couldn't before because of the kids or something."

"There's not really anything I want to do though," Xiang said.

"Come now. I'm sure there's something," Arthur responded. "Or how about I just take you out. You can think of something while we drive around."

Xiang looked back at Arthur. He wasn't sure what to say or if something would really come to mind. However, it really looked like Arthur wanted him to do something special, so Xiang nodded his head.

The two of them snuck out the house without the kids knowing. They didn't notice Xiang was out of his room while Arthur used the excuse of their lack of birthday candles to go out. Arthur still let Yao know that the two of them were going out, which Yao was happy with.

"Let's see," Arthur started after the two of them drove in silence for a while, "15… What did I do at 15…?" he asked more to himself.

"What did you do at 15?" Xiang asked curious.

Arthur was suddenly hit with his teenage memories. Awkwardly, he said, "Let's not focus on me. It's your birthday." He thought again about what teenage boys liked to do. "How about batting cages?" Alfred loved those.

"Do I look sporty to you, Arthur?" Xiang sassed.

Arthur chuckled. "Touché." Another idea came to mind. "Well, what do you usually do with your Uncle Kiku then?"

Xiang turned to Arthur, his stepfather noticing through his peripheral vision. He thought about the answer. "Well… let's just say a lot of nerdy stuff…" Kiku was definitely an otaku when he was young—negative connotation and all though not too extreme—and he pulled him into his shenanigans.

"Why don't we just go to the mall for now?" Arthur re-suggested. "We can window shop or maybe find something you like. And if you get another idea on what you want to do, we'll leave from there. Sound good?"

Xiang shrugged. "Alright."

Arthur smiled, glad they had at least something planned.

Arthur drove straight to the nearest mall in the area. He parked their car and the two of them were soon walking into the large building.

"I don't think I ever see you shop for anything ever," Arthur recalled. "Other than video games…"

"Yeah, a lot of my shirts are the same ones from middle school," Xiang admitted. "My dad bought them bigger than my actual size at the time so I'd grow into them."

Arthur stared in disbelief at his stepson. "You let your father pick out your clothes?" Sure he loved Yao and his spouse was a beautiful person, but sometimes his fashion senses lacked.

"More like he came home with them," Xiang said, laughing at Arthur's look. He agreed with his stepdad. "I didn't bother saying anything."

"Well how about for your birthday present, we get you some new wardrobe. 100 percent Xiang," Arthur gave another suggestion.

Xiang raised a brow. "Really?"

"Yes. Don't worry one bit about price."

"And you won't say anything?"

"Well there are certain things that won't go and I'm sure your father would agree with me. Other than that, my lips are sealed."

Xiang cracked another smile. "Alright. Cool."

Xiang was quick to lead Arthur to the first store, taking Arthur by surprise. With how Xiang typically dressed, Arthur didn't think Xiang thought much on clothing. However, after watching Xiang for just 10 minutes, Arthur could tell he was very wrong.

"I think this is pretty nice," Xiang said once stepping out of the fitting room. No longer was he wearing his usual baggy graphic tee and basketball shorts combo. Now he was supporting a casual gray dress vest over a more fitted black shirt with some jeans. "The others fit fine, too, but can I wear these ones out?"

Arthur was still pretty shocked by the change, but soon shook it off. "Yeah, of course. I don't see why not."

Xiang's expression brightened even more.

After paying for the new clothes and snipping the tags off Xiang's current ones, Xiang and Arthur moved on to the next store. Then the next. And the next.

"You surprisingly have a knack for clothing," Arthur said as he followed beside Xiang. "Why haven't you dressed like this before?"

"You think my dad's cool with me picking out clothes like these?" Xiang deadpanned, holding up distressed jeans. He put them back. "Sure he'd say he's fine with whatever, but he'd still make comments. He won't say anything if it's already bought though." Xiang let out a mischievous snicker at this.

Arthur laughed as well. "Sounding like a real teenager. I suppose it is harder for you to shop on your own. I had my brothers when I was your age to take me out."

"You picked out clothes Nanna and Grandpa didn't approve of?" Xiang asked.

Arthur kept his mouth shut on his rocker phase. "Go try on your clothes."

"Your brothers would have photos if I asked, right?" Xiang continued teasing despite walking off.

Arthur rolled his eyes, still finding Xiang's snarks endearing. He then felt his phone vibrate, pulling the device from his pocket. A text from Yao.

'When r u coming home?'

Arthur texted back, 'soon I think. Within the hour.'

Arthur was just pocketing his phone when Xiang came back. "Just the shirt?"

Xiang nodded, he and Arthur heading to check out. "I think I'm good on clothes now. Thanks, Arthur."

Arthur smiled brightly. "Come on. Your father was asking when we'd be home and I still need to pick up candles."

"Hopefully the kitchen isn't a mess when we get home," Xiang joked.

"Which force do you think is stronger: the kids' destructive mess or your father's ability to keep order?"

Xiang laughed. A hard question.

After paying, the two left the mall and headed home. Of course they still made sure to pick up candles at the nearby drugstore as well.

Arthur was first to enter the front door upon coming home, holding the door somewhat closed. "Hello? Anyone there?"

"Dad!" four squealing kids yelled, running up to him.

"What took so long!?" Peter huffed.

"I thought you just needed to buy candles," Wendy added.

"I did buy candles. Along with some other things," Arthur responded. He stepped inside, still blocking the entrance with the door. "Introducing, the new Xiang Wang," he called upon swinging the door open.

"Really, Arthur?" Xiang asked, coming in with shopping bags.

"Woah!" the kids squealed again. The clothes really made Xiang look different in their eyes. They looked him head to top from the new snapbacks to the new sneakers their stepbrother was taking off.

"Did Dad pick out your clothes?" Steven asked since they never knew of Xiang's legit clothing style.

"Nope, all me," Xiang answered, plopping his hat on Steven's head. The younger boy giggled, fixing the too large for him hat.

"Can you pick out my clothes, too!?" Dylan asked, clinging onto Xiang's waist as the birthday boy headed over to Yao.

"I can help," Xiang responded down to Dylan before presenting himself to his father. "Well?"

Yao laughed. "You look like one of those Hong Kong boys in those music videos."

"Ba, I am a Hong Kong boy," Xiang deadpanned, making Yao laugh even more.

"Looks like you got a lot of new clothes," Yao said, noticing the bags.

"Yeah, no more middle school clothes," Xiang responded as he went to put the bags down in the living room.

"And new clothes to go along with another surprise gift," Arthur added, coming forward with Steven and the twins in arms.

"What do you mean?" Xiang asked. "I'm really fine with just the clothes?"

Arthur gave a cheeky smile as he put the twins down. He turned to Yao, who gave him a suspicious nod. "Alright, Xiang, what is the one thing you wanted as a child?"

"Arthur, it's been a good day; don't go there," Xiang snarked.

"Sorry… Okay, how about this: what is the happiest place on Earth?"

Xiang's eyes widened as screams filled the room from the kids. "Nu uh…?" He turned to his father.

Yao nodded as he smiled brightly.

Xiang then turned to the kids. They were all excitedly jumping around and screaming nonsense. However, one word stayed constant.

"Disneyland! Disneyland!"

"We haven't gone there since we were little!" Dylan yelled.

"I wonder what's changed since the last time I've gone," Yao wondered aloud. "It's been years."

"You been there, too!?" Peter asked.

"Everyone has, Peter," Wendy answered matter-of-factly.

"Actually," Yao started with his voice an octave higher, "not everyone."

"How?" Xiang asked over by Arthur. "I mean, all of us? To California?"

"My work does this competition with all the employees once a year. I just made sure to do everything to win this year's prize." A trip to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Arthur ruffled Xiang's hair. "I think you deserve a nice vacation for once."

Xiang was absolutely speechless. He didn't know what to say. Well, actions did speak louder than words.

"Thank you!" Xiang said, actually jumping Arthur in a hug. The Englishman was actually surprised he managed to keep them both standing.

"Xiang?" Arthur questioned, actually worried. This wasn't like Xiang at all.

"Thank you so much," Xiang thanked again, wrapping himself tighter around Arthur.

Arthur's worried look melted into laughter. "Son, you are 15 years old."

"15 years old and never been to Disneyland, Dad," Xiang shot back only to freeze at what accidently slipped. He instantly got off Arthur. "Arthur. I mean Arthur."

Arthur was shocked at first and so was Yao. The two's shock then shifted to excitement. Yao hugged Xiang while Arthur ruffled his hair again.

"No, dad's fine," Arthur encouraged, only embarrassing Xiang more.

"Ba," Xiang whined to Yao, who only snuggled him more. The kids joined right in on the hug fest.

"Dad! Dad! Dad!" the kids chanted, only making Xiang more disheveled. Even Long seemed to run in from somewhere to join the chaos.

"Ba!" Xiang whined once more.

Yao finally let his son go, still laughing. "Alright, alright, why don't you all show Xiang the cake base? You wanted him to help decorate, right?"

The kids instantly took the bait.

"Yeah! You're gonna love the cake, Xiang!" Dylan said, dragging Xiang to the fridge.

"That's a tall cake," Xiang commented when helping the kids carry it out. Despite being tall, the radius of the cake wasn't too big. "Looks ready to me." It was already nicely covered with whipped cream.

"No! Baba said to decorate with fruit!" Peter argued.

"Here!" Steven chimed in, pulling out some bowls of fresh fruits they sliced earlier as well.

"Wait until you cut it up and try it," Wendy excitedly said. They had baked the cake specially with food coloring, stacking each layer in rainbow order along with more fruit corresponding with each color within the cream layers.

"Cut after dinner," Yao interrupted from the side. However, he seemed to be ignored when Xiang started decorating with the kids. He rolled his eyes.

"Yao," Arthur started, gaining his spouse's attention. "Did you hear that? He called me dad. Even if it was an accident, he called me dad!"

Yao hid a smile behind his hand, smiling at Arthur's excitement.

"Do you think it'll happen again? Not as an accident?" Arthur asked, hopeful.

The parents turned to the kids. They were all having fun decorating the cake. Smiling at the endearing sight, Yao leaned against Arthur as Arthur embraced Yao.

"Honestly, it's a stretch," Yao answered. "But, you never know with Xiang."

Arthur snorted softly. "Yeah. If anything, we still have it on video, right?"

Yao started shaking with laughter, nodding his head. Arthur had told him about the Disneyland trip beforehand so that he could set up a camera and film the moment. Moment captured along with other special moments that birthday. Xiang's best birthday by far.


NCND has become nothing more than a self indulge now haha! like, even Xiang was a little different here, but then again who wouldn't be excited about their first disney trip? also, Hong Kong's a fashionable character (despite Xiang no longer acting canon honestly but oh well). think kfashion or skater for his clothing style maybe. speaking of freaking asian stereotypes haha! chinese cake eeyyy! haha so many thing happened in this chapter.

if anyone is actually still following this, please let me know! i don't mind if there isn't since it's been a long time, but it's just nice to know!