Weeks rolled along and Five had adjusted to high school for the most part. The school work wasn't hard and despite the unwanted attention from girls in his year, he was doing okay. He did have to deal with bullies in the first week but he did get them off his back real quick. Otherwise he just made small talk with others who weren't his friends and spent time with Max, El, and Will in school along with the others at lunch. The days went by so rather swiftly that when Five got up on this particular morning, he woke to a beaming Will with a rectangular drawing in his hand. What was that he thought with a furrowed yet curious brow.
"What made you all happy this morning?" Five asked as he got out from his sleeping bag.
Will handed him the drawing and Five glanced at it. He then noticed it wasn't a drawing, but a card, a card Will drew and made himself. Then it dawned on him what day it was; October 1st.
"Happy Birthday Five." Will spoke in a warm tone.
His birthday…today was his birthday and Five chuckled in slight embarrassment. He knew today had to be his birthday, of course he did, but yet he was still kind of in a daze and taken aback. His sister Vanya would make everyone cards for their birthday and she would have been the only one to do so. Five looked at the card and Will had drawn a picture of their two D&D characters on the front with 'The chances of you having a great day are…'
Five then opened the inside to see a small little party drawing of everyone else Five knew and the inside continued to say 'Are critically high. Happy Birthday, From your best friend Will'.
Five knew Will had probably been working on this for weeks and this actually made him smile.
"Thanks Will, I love the card thanks. I'm only used to getting a card from my sister so this is great thanks."
Five was a bit saddened to think about Vanya since this would be his first birthday without his siblings and the first time he had the day to himself. It's not like Reggie ever did anything special for their birthday. He only made an acknowledgement of their purpose and that their birth, while important, did not need celebration. Grace was slightly better and dealt with the 'birthday' things by simply giving them warm affirmations of their day and practical gifts such as more knives for Diego or violin string for Vanya. Will noticed Five was quiet and he gave him a hug, causing Five to snap out of his thoughts.
"There's more you're getting later but that's when we come home from school."
Five raised an eyebrow at that but simply nodded happily as he followed Will into the kitchen for breakfast. Joyce smiled and gave Five a hug.
"Happy birthday Aidan. I made you chocolate chip pancakes and some bacon for you. Sit, sit and enjoy it." Joyce shared happily.
Five knew Joyce was calling him Aidan rather than Five since she wanted to treat him like a person. Oddly enough, it felt nice for Joyce to be doing that and that she was caring for him on his birthday. He sat down with Will and Joyce and soon Johnathan joined them at the table. He smiled over at Five who was piling on food on his plate and chuckled.
"Happy birthday Aidan."
"Thanks John…still calling me Aidan too huh?"
"Like I said, it's messed up that your father just gave you a number for a name. Kind of want you to like the idea of having a name so that you don't feel you need to accept it now that you're a time away." Jonathan explained.
Five snorted a bit at that but oddly it was a bit sweet of him. Chatter at the table centered around Five and he nearly choked when Joyce mentioned a party.
"Mrs. Byers really, I don't need a party." Five protested.
Joyce shook her head and stated,
"Don't even start Aidan. I want to give you a little party. It's your day and you deserve to celebrate it. Your father should have at least given you parties. What kind of man doesn't want to give his children any joy in their lives?"
One who saw them as tools and a means to an end Five thought as he stuffed a bite of pancake into his mouth. Still he was curious on how the party would be like. The only good moments were when they all snuck out on their birthdays to eat donuts and get milkshakes. He wouldn't trade those moments for the world but he wondered what he missed on by being adopted by Reggie.
"It's not going to be so fancy but it will be something. Will already invited your friends, and I made sure to extend the invite to Steve and Robin since they are your friends too. A party isn't going to be the worst thing for you to experience." Jonathan explained.
Five nodded and he wondered just how this birthday was going to go. It was a bit of a buzzkill that he needed to go to school on his birthday. Then again, if he was still back in 2002, he would have anything from classes and training to taking down bad guys. Will saw Five thinking or pondering in his head again. He could understand why Five would be and this day must be harder on him because. Will just hoped Five would have a good day so that he wouldn't be stuck in a pensive or sad mood. Five noticed Will was looking over at him again and he wondered why Will cared so much for him. Then again Five could only look at that bowl cut and baby faced boy and just feel at ease and perhaps let his guard down with him.
"I'm going to be okay Will. It's just…this is all just new and it's strange to have this day mean something. I am thankful, really."
Will smiled and nodded, saying,
"Good because this is supposed to be a good day, even though you wouldn't be born for another four years."
"Ah right so he's like negative four today or 14?" Johnathan kind of teased.
"Ha ha, both would be right. But today will be a good day and this day is already a better one than most." Five answered with a sincere chuckle.
Jonathan drove them to school as usual and once Five and Will were at their lockers; El, Max, and Dustin were already there with all smiles.
"Happy birthday." El spoke sweetly while giving him a hug.
Five hugged back and Dustin joined in on the hug.
"Yes Happy Birthday to you!" Dustin added.
Max was chuckling a bit and waited for Dustin and El to stop hugging Five before she gave one of her own.
"Happy birthday."
Five noticed the colorful party bags the three of them had and he couldn't help shake his head.
"You didn't need to get me anything, seriously you didn't." Five told them.
"Yeah not getting away with saying that, plus you will like my gift trust me on that." Max told him with a light smirk.
"Yea come on Five, don't be a party pooper for your own birthday." Dustin whispered.
Five looked at El and his face softened a tad.
"Hopper helped me to get a gift for you. You should be happy today." El spoke slowly.
Five chuckled and he saw Mike and Lucas making it to his locker. Both of them just gave him a light wave with Lucas being the one to say,
"Happy birthday man."
Five nodded in thanks and looked to Mike. He didn't have a puss on his face but he just shrugged and spoke,
"What Lucas said."
Will nudged him to be nicer and gave him a light glare. He was not going to have Mike be an ass on Five's birthday and Mike just nodded to him.
"I mean happy birthday. Must be weird right, having a birthday?" Mike asked.
Max and Dustin didn't look amused at Mike's comment but Five humored,
"One where I actually get to celebrate and not fight bank robbers or mad doctors…that's not weird it's a gift."
That got a laugh out of everyone, including Mike since Five's normal birthdays would be weird and not this.
"Yeah well don't be a smart ass Five or I won't come to your party. Before anyone is shocked, yes I am going if Five's nice."
"You mean because Nancy's coming and she's bringing you?" Max shot back with a light raised eyebrow.
Mike groaned.
"No…well yes she's coming because of Johnathan mostly but..come on Five and I are kind of chill…right?"
"I dunno Mike, you really did give me a lukewarm birthday wish before Will prompted you. Seems like we're still chilly." Five grinned.
Mike rolled his eyes but he couldn't help that Five was going to always be a sassy asshole. Still, it would make Will and El happy if he'd come so that's why he was going.
"I'm working on that. So everyone at Five's for the small party after school?" Mike asked.
Everyone nodded and that made Five feel a bit chipper. As Five went through his day he got more birthday wishes from Robin and from Eddie. Interestingly enough, Eddie gifted him two little D&D character models, thinking his old one will die in Hellfire at some point, and a red notebook. Simple but Five did enjoy the thought all the same. He had opted to help Eddie study when he could so he could graduate with dignity rather than being a flunk out. Eddie wasn't a bad guy, just a theatrical outcast that says things like they are…no wonder they got along he thought with a light chuckle as he indulged in lunch with the other Hellfire members and his friends.
When school was over, Jonathan drove Will and Five back to the house for Five's birthday. Five really didn't want this to be a big deal but in some ways he was happy that his birthday was being celebrated and with people who saw him as a person. The boys got out of the car and Five blushed a bit in embarrassment that Joyce decorated the house for him, complete with a banner Will clearly made and streamers. Joyce smiled and gave Five a small hug and encouraged him to sit on the sofa. He chuckled as he saw three gifts on the table already.
"Let's wait until everyone else gets here, that way I can unwrap everything in one go." Five expressed.
Joyce saw Five was fiddling with his hands and knew this was all very new for him. Will sat beside Five and asked,
"Is this really a bad thing?"
Five sighed and stroked the back of his neck.
"No it's just…god you'll think I'm being stupid…"
"You're thinking about how you might not deserve it deep down where your siblings aren't getting this." Will expressed carefully.
Five was taken aback by how well Will seemed to know him. Yes…he did feel guilty in ways that his brothers and sisters weren't going to have a party like this, friends to be there for them…a loving parent that wasn't a robot happy for their special day. He knew he came off as an asshole or had things together…but he was still a boy who deep down missed his family and felt bad he was getting everything he kind of wanted by his mistake. He nodded and Will cracked a very faint smile.
"Things perhaps happen for a reason Five; maybe you were meant to come here…to maybe be stuck here, to maybe change yourself. Stupid thinking but maybe this is a way to catch up on what you missed and maybe humble you. I'm thankful you're here and that I can celebrate your birthday."
Five smiled and looked at Will's soft eyes. Man this boy just knew what to say to make him feel…happy and not be stuck in his self-doubt, anger, and sad thoughts. He scoffed warmly and playfully slapped Will's back.
"And I'm glad I get to have friends like you to celebrate with. Just hope the others won't take too long since I really want to open these gifts." he chuckled.
Soon enough, everyone of importance arrived at the Byers home to celebrate Five's birthday. Joyce and Hop ordered pizzas and had snacks in the kitchen for everyone. As Five munched on his pizza, he couldn't help but feel something he couldn't describe. He did like his family but this…being around Will and the others…just made him feel like a new person. He wasn't just Number 5 to them, but in essence he was Aidan Quinn despite keeping the name Five to cling on to his history as a member of the Hargreeves family.
"Okay Aidan, present time. Come on birthday boy let's get unwrapping!" Joyce encouraged.
"Right on you go Aidan since this is a school day for all of you so…let's get things moving." Hopper added in a gruff tone.
Five nodded as he grabbed a present from the huge pile. He saw it was from Max and she gave him a light little smile.
"This is in case you want to get around like a normal person…or at least like me anyway." Max shared.
Five opened the box and saw there was a worn but very stylish skateboard. His eyes widened as he took out the board and examined it. It was a black board with a purple and orange underside with black wheels.
"This was the first board I learned to ride on. I have a much better board but I thought you could use this to get around. You know…be like Marty McFly himself." Max explained in a sweet yet playful tone.
Five chuckled since there were slight links between him and Marty, only he got himself stuck in 1985 where Marty was stuck in 1955. Still he always liked skateboards and cars so this would be a cool way to get around.
"You're going to teach me how to get around, right?" he asked.
"No duh I will, you will pick it up quickly I think." Max commented.
Five got El's gift next and saw books; The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne, and a Wrinkle in Time.
"I thought maybe you would like them. Maybe get ideas or just have fun." El told him.
He knew Hopper helped to get the books and gave a light nod to him.
"Thanks El, I love them. Interestingly I never read these books so it will be nice to take a read of them."
Dustin gave Five his gift next and chuckled when he pulled out The Hobbit.
"Really Dustin? Do I look like Eddie to you?" Five joked.
"Come on, don't knock it until you try it. Plus you play D&D with us so you can't hate fantasy that much." Dustin argued.
There was also the first book of the Lord of the Rings too. Five chuckled warmly as he did tell his friends he loved to read so he should have expected to get books for his birthday. Jonathan gave his gift next since he knew his would kind of pair with Steve and Robin's. Five opened it and his eyes widened as it was a cassette player. It was an older model for the time they were in but he didn't mind at all.
"Jonathan, I'm really touched. You really didn't have to spend the money on me, really. Thank you." Five said as he took it out.
"It's really nothing. I got a pretty good deal and Nancy and I kind of got this for you so you could have music on the go. Oh and I made you another mix tape for you to try."
Five looked at the mix tape and he was intrigued by the more obscure tracks. He was going to enjoy this he thought as he moved on to Robin and Steve's gifts. They got him a cassette of Huey Lewis and the News' Sport album, The Human League's Dare cassette and the Back to the Future soundtrack.
"You hum Back in Time and Power of Love so much that you should at least hum to the songs. Was I right in you liking The Human League?" Robin asked.
Five chuckled and nodded,
"'Don't You Want Me' is a classic and I enjoy their sound. I suppose it was you Steve that thought I was a Huey Lewis fan?" he asked.
"Yea like Robin said, you like his songs from that movie so safe bet." Steve commented.
"Well they will have another album in either 86 or 87 so keep an eye out if you remember. But thanks, I love these tapes." Five told them with a grateful smile.
He got to Joyce's gift and inside was a nice blue coat, a scarf, and a hat.
"Winter will be coming sooner than you think and I wanted you to have something warmer to wear." Joyce said with a warm smile.
Five thanked Joyce for the gift and lastly it was Will's gift. He carefully opened the box and saw that he made a little comic. At first he thought Will made a comic of one of the adventures he had with his family but it wasn't the case. It had their D&D characters on the cover and it was a fantasy spin on their first meeting. Five smiled as he turned the page and saw Will's drawings of a scenario where they were fending off orcs. It touched him to see Will spend the time on this short comic and he smiled.
"Will this is lovely, is there going to be more?" he asked with a smile.
Will beamed and he nodded.
"O-Of course but I will need time. Maybe it can be part of your gifts for Christmas. You like it? Not just saying it?"
Five nodded and added,
"I really like this Will. It's nice to see your art and to make up a story that makes me want more is a good thing. You should really get into this, I bet many people would love your stories too."
Will smiled and gave Five a hug. Five hugged back and gave Will a faint squeeze. He never thought he could have friends, but Will was definitely one of the best ones he could have. So thoughtful and he wanted to do all he could to make him happy. Such a selfless and kind soul. The party ended with a chocolate cake with 14 candles.
"Make a wish Aidan." Joyce said as she got her camera ready to take a picture.
Five laughed since a wish from a cake couldn't come true but he did think of something. He thought long and hard and while he wanted to go home or figure out the formula that wasn't what he wished for instead he wished in his mind, 'I wish that somehow…Will and I can be close no matter what happens.'
Five blew out the candles and had cake with his friends and found family with the Byers. The more time passed, the more Five didn't want to leave. It horrified him in some ways but in others it put him at ease. It would be his choice when he figures out the formula if he stays or goes back but he really wanted his wish to come true deep down. For now he was just so happy in this moment that he didn't want anything to bring him down, not even his own thoughts about returning to his own time. He had Will, Robin, El and so many others that it almost made this place time his home. Wishful thinking but Five wasn't the same boy from the summer and perhaps that's what was supposed to be.
Can't believe this story has made it this far and hasn't burned out. I'm amazed at how people seem to enjoy it. If there's anything I am notorious for it's a slow burn and this fic is still going to burn on quite a bit since Five needs to learn about himself and be something other than a Hargreeves hero. There's still more to come and to peek behind the curtain, this story is halfway done; meaning there's at least a good chunk left. Thank you for sticking with this little passion project and there will be more to come.