Raising Travis Chapter 3: The Birthday Party from Hell.
Title: The Birthday Party
Series: Raising Travis
Author: Lady Taevyn
Rating: K
Pairing: If y'all don't know by now, you're a lost cause.
Categories: Fluff, slight romance (if you blink you'll miss it).
Summary: Travis' 6th Birthday Party is an exercise in patience.
Disclaimer: Not mine…Yada yada… Dick Wolf… yada yada… don't sue.
Alex was at her wits end. The decorations weren't staying up, the bakery had delivered the wrong cake, and Annalise's mother had dropped her off 20 minutes ago claiming she had forgotten a soccer game she had to be at. When the phone rang Alex thought she would do one of two things, scream or cry, both were viable options right now. Travis had picked up the extension in the kitchen before she had a chance to put down the streamers.
"Mom, it's Uncle Bobby, he says he needs to talk to you it's 'portant." Alex sighed; if he was calling to say he couldn't come she would kill him herself. Taking several calming breaths Alex picked up the phone next to the sofa.
"Thank you Travis, I have it," as she heard the other line click off she continued, "Bobby, if you are calling to say anything other then you are coming early and can you help with anything you can just hang up now." Alex hadn't realized that planning a six year olds birthday party could be so taxing, the other guests weren't due to arrive for about two hours and already Alex just wanted to take a nap.
"Alex, I decided to come over early and thought I'd call to see if I could pick anything up on the way?" Bobby asked just barely hiding the laugh in his voice.
"Just get here, the freakin bakery delivered the wrong cake, and I can't see any way to play off having the bikini clad figure at my six year olds birthday so I'll need you to run it back to the shop and get the right one. Anna's mom dropped her off early and I don't have a booster seat for her or I'd go back and give them a piece of my mind." She was cut off by the sound of a full belly laugh from the other end of the phone. Normally his laugh would lighten her mood but not today.
"If you don't get your ass here, and soon, the words Justifiable Homicide are going to be in my near future. I swear you would think that after two months of planning this day should go off without a hitch." The frustration was evident and Bobby didn't want to push her any further.
"Just stay calm, and I'll be there in 25, if you'd let me come lights and sirens it'd be more like 15 but I know how you feel about using our position to get our way. So I'll be good." He prayed this would get a laugh out of her.
"Don't tempt me; I just may take you up on the offer. I'll see you in 25 Bobby and thank you." Alex hung up the phone and quickly got back down to the business of hanging streamers and balloons. I can get through this day, had become her mantra almost as soon as she had woken up that morning.
Bobby was officially her hero as in less then an hour and a half he had gotten the cakes switched and a discount coupon from the shop, as well as blowing up another dozen balloons. She so owed him coffee for the next two weeks and a dinner or three. That was a price she would gladly pay though for the little bit of sanity he offered her. She would make the most of this day for Travis' sake; he deserved the best with all he'd been through.
Mike, Carolyn, and Deakins all showed up at the same time in order to help. Mike was automatically pulled into Travis' room to be shown the "Star Wars Lego's" set Alex had let him open early. The trio knew their way around her apartment, all of them having been there at one time or another for different reasons. They got themselves drinks and helped put out chips and cookies. Alex realized she didn't know what she'd do without them.
"Thank you guys so much, I seriously thought I was going to have a breakdown before you showed up." She said as they sat around her living room.
"Alex any time you need anything please feel free to call me and Angie, you know we have three kids we've probably been in whatever spot you're in at the time. I'm serious parenting can be a scary thing, especially when you are on your own. As a matter of fact why don't you and Travis come by for dinner some time? I mean it, your not alone; we are all here for you." Deakins knew he spoke for the whole group with his thoughts. Alex returned his reassuring smile truly feeling that she could depend on any one of these people, her friends, in a time of crisis.
She had bought supplies for a treasure hunt and as each child entered the apartment they were given a list of items they had to find and their first clue to finding them. It was a success, and other games followed. Adults and children alike were having a good time. Alex was relaxed for the first time that day. Her eyes sought out Bobby instinctively knowing he wouldn't be far, her instincts were spot on when she saw him walking toward her wearing what she could only describe as a 'Bedroom Smile'. She quickly shook that thought out of her head as she saw Jesse reaching his grimy fingers toward the Spiderman cake again.
Alex was about to ask Bobby to put the cake on top of the refrigerator when she caught Jesse about to dive into it for the fourth time in 15 minutes. It seemed Bobby was two steps ahead of her and had the cake half way to the kitchen before she could open her mouth. This little telepathy they had was really starting to freak her out but she figured eight and a half years of working together had allowed them to be able to read each other. This would come in handy when they were about to sing "Happy Birthday" and Alex was frantically looking for a lighter for the candles Bobby casually reached into his jeans pocket and produced one. For the umpteenth time in so many hours Alex sent a quiet thank you to whoever was up there listening.
Age appropriate favor bags were handed out after gifts had been opened and people started discussing needing to leave. With all the time and effort that had gone into decorating Alex was tempted to leave everything up for now and clean later. Sitting on the sofa with a quickly tiring birthday boy on her lap Alex asked the question that had been flitting in and out of her mind all day.
"Did you have a good day?" She ran a comforting hand through his hair as he let the events of the day tumble back over his mind.
"Yeah, thanks for letting me have the party." Travis answered quietly, his mind finally settling on his parents and what they were doing in Heaven to celebrate.
"Well then Mr. Birthday Boy, are you ready for a bath and jammies? You can stay up for a little longer afterward but not too late."
"Where'd Uncle Bobby go, I didn't see him leave with everyone else?" Travis wondered aloud missing the big mans presence. Having heard the question the man himself appeared from the kitchen drying his hands.
"I was just putting some of the food away, what did you need bud?" He asked circling the sofa settling his large frame next to the tired pair. Almost without realizing it Alex leaned into his warmth and Travis slid from her lap to Bobby's content to just sit for a while.
"Bobby you didn't have to clean up, I was going to get around to it eventually." Alex said bewildered at his actions. A sense of warmth spread through her at the ease of the whole situation.
"How about that bath before you fall asleep and rub cake into my shirt?" Bobby asked standing keeping a hold on Travis while Alex went ahead and ran the water into the tub. In no time with minimal effort he was washed and redressed and they were again seated on the sofa in the same position they had been before the bath. Bobby had rested one arm along the back of the couch just above Alex's shoulders as Travis cuddled into his lap. Again Bobby's thoughts turned to just how domestic this all was, and how comfortable he was with it.
With Travis tucked into bed Alex got herself a cup of tea and Bobby a beer. Setting both on the coffee table she quickly curled into his side and draped a blanket over them. Several minutes of easy silence passed before she realized she was playing with the buttons on his shirt. Bobby grabbed her wrist loosely, before she had a chance to over think and pull away, and kept it in place over his heart. Letting her know he was comfortable with this.
"Perfect end to a perfect day" Alex said softly reaching for her tea. All things considered it had been a great day once Bobby showed up and played the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress.
"I wish they could all end like this" Bobby responded just as quietly.
End. Yeah Yeah I know if it was any more sugary you'd all be in a diabetic coma. Anyway let me know what you think.
