"John, step away from the cake." The little boy looked up in alarm as he spotted his mother frowning at him from the entrance of the kitchen. He glanced over at where his fingers were poised to swipe off a layer of chocolate icing off of his birthday cake and slowly withdrew them.
"Sowwy." He muttered, climbing down from the chair he was standing on. Aleisa sighed and picked the desert up, moving it to the counter which was higher up. John frowned, only able to see the top of the delicious looking cake now.
"What did I say about eating this cake?" Aleisa asked, looking down at her son pointedly. John twiddled his thumbs, unable to look her in the eye.
"Not have any until the pawty." He mumbled. Aleisa sighed and knelt down to get eye level with him.
"I know it's hard but this is good practice in patience ok? Now people will be here soon, so why don't you head into the living room to help greet them." She suggested. John smiled, his mood completely reversed. After giving his mother a quick kiss on the cheek he dashed into the next room, anxiously awaiting the guests to his birthday party.
...
Not too long after he had sat down John heard the doorbell ring and raced towards it.
"I got it!" he shouted at the house, alerting his parents that someone was here. John reached up to grab the doorknob but before he turned it he remembered what his father had said about answering for strangers.
"Who is it?" he yelled at the door.
"Its uncle Edmund! I have come to eat all your cake!" a voice responded just as loudly. John smiled as he heard a more feminine giggle follow shortly after. The little boy quickly opened the door and flew into his uncle's arms.
"Don't eat my cake!" he roared in laughter as Edmund tossed him in the air. Edmund laughed in amusement before heading into the house.
"Aw man." He whined playfully. John giggled again at his silly uncle. However when his eyes caught another figure standing behind them he grinned and wiggled out of Edmund's grip.
"Ray!" he cheered, running over to hug the redhead's legs. The girl smiled and bent down to hug the boy back.
"Happy Birthday John." The girl told him. At this moment Aleisa and Peter made their way in and paused at the sight of a stranger holding their son. Obviously, Edmund and John knew her.
"Edmund who is your pretty friend?" Peter asked, looking at his brother teasingly. Edmund glowered briefly at his brother, already knowing what he was playing at. The girl looked up and stood, straightening herself out shyly. Ed smiled gently at her and tugged her arm, leading her over to greet his siblings.
"Aleisa, Peter this is Raelyn. Raelyn, my older brother Peter and his much better half Aleisa." Edmund introduced. Peter rolled his eyes with a grin and reached out a hand to the girl.
"It's nice to meet you." He greeted politely. Aleisa however ignored her hand and instead went in for the hug.
"I've heard so much about you, its so nice to finally meet you." She gushed with a grin. Raelyn blushed quickly, shooting a smirk up at Edmund who looked uncomfortable.
"She's Edmund's girlfriend" John imputed smugly, inserting himself into the conversation. The older couple turned to the two in surprise. Edmund chuckled but grabbed Raelyn's hand.
"Yea, fairly new development actually." He confirmed, grinning down at the girl who shared the grin.
"Well we're glad you're hear. You have a few minutes to get comfortable before the rest of the family crashes." Aleisa joked, getting Raelyn to let out a laugh.
"Can I show Ray my cake?" John asked, tugging on the redhead's arm excitedly. Aleisa smiled at her son.
"Yes, but you don't get to eat it yet." She pointed out knowingly. John blushed in embarrassment but nodded before dragging Raelyn into the kitchen with his mother following after. Edmund watched her go with a smile, pleased that they had taken to his new girl so quickly.
"She seems like a good one. Now if she survives the family get together you have a keeper." Peter joked. Edmund smiled nervously.
"Alright, now that you're hear let's put you to work. There's still some things to put together." Peter grabbed his younger brother by the shoulder, pulling him out of the house despite his protests.
...
John raced over to his mother holding out two plates of cake to her. He had been so excited when he could finally dig in. However, his father told him that he only got his piece after everyone else had been served, so he could learn some manners. No one had seen that little boy move faster than passing out all the plates of cake to his family. Aleisa chuckled taking one but was confused when John insisted she take the other one too.
"John, I don't need two slices of cake, one is enough." She assured her little boy.
"No mama, the baby needs cake too." John pointed out. Aleisa stared at him with watery eyes, her emotions heightened by the pregnancy. How sweet was her little toddler.
"Well that surely doesn't come from Peter." Susan noted, as she grinned at her nephew fondly. Peter shot her an unamused glare. Aleisa carefully set her cake off to the side and scooped John up into her arms, hugging him tightly.
"Oh, John that's so sweet. But the baby doesn't need its own piece. I'm sharing my food with it." She explained to him. John frowned thoughtfully, gazing down at her barely noticeable baby bump.
"But what if the baby wants two pieces of cake?" he asked seriously. Aleisa shook her head in amusement.
"The baby doesn't need that much, trust me. But it was sweet for you to offer." She told him. John nodded and looked over at the pieces of cake on the side table.
"Then can I have the baby's piece?" he asked her eagerly, staring at the chocolate cake as if it was the best thing on earth. Everyone laughed.
"Now that's Peter son." Mr. Pevensie chortled. Peter threw up his hands in exasperation, while everyone kept laughing at his expense. Aleisa glanced over at her husband with a grin, and patted his knee sympathetically before turning back to her son.
"Why don't you start with one for now and maybe we'll save that piece for later?" his mother suggested pointedly. John shrugged with a grin, taking the extra piece back to the table before coming back to eat his own piece amidst the love of his family.