Happy Birthday

Rating: G

Summary: Haku is eight!

Words: 995

(**)

Haku walked home slowly, head down. He couldn't help but feel a bit sad after being left to go to school all alone. Well, he had gone to school with his brothers but Severus had pulled them out early while leaving Haku all alone. It wasn't fair and then the nice old woman at the hospital said that Severus had not been in all day.

So there Haku was… walking home all alone. He jogged as he saw his house coming into view, not wanting to wake up later than his brothers after their demanded nap. Well, only he and Naruto would sleep. Gaara had some kind of demon that didn't let him sleep. It was odd to think that the little redhead stored any kind of demon but it was apparently true.

"SURPRISE!"

Haku let out a shriek as Naruto and Gaara popped up suddenly, waving their arms about. His little heart thudded in his chest as he observed their home. Zabuza was sitting on the arm of the couch, arms folded as a birthday hat was placed atop his head. He certainly didn't look like he wanted the hat upon his head but a quick glare from Severus caused him to stop scowling. There was a large, bright banner hanging up that exclaimed happy birthday for him—oh today was his birthday!

"Happy eight birthday, Haku," Severus said calmly even as Gaara and Naruto bounced around the newly turned eight year old. Haku beamed at his family. He never had a birthday party or even celebrated the day he was born because his father wasn't the celebratory kind of man and they were just not wealthy enough to afford anything more than a 'happy birthday'.

"Yeah, Happy Birthday HAKU! You're eight now!" Naruto started, obviously excited.

"Severus baked a cake—we had to argue with him to make it in the shape of a very, very large cupcake," Gaara jumped in, dragging the boy into the festive looking house. Haku wondered how much arguing was used to make the house this bright.

"Only 'cause we all know how much you love cupcakes," Gaara and Naruto both stated at the same time. Haku nodded, still smiling hard. He couldn't believe that all this was done for his birthday. Severus was standing in front of a cake that was, indeed, shaped like a cupcake. It had been meticulously covered in icing with words wishing him a happy birthday around the sides like wrapping while eight candles stuck out from the top of the cake.

"He let me and Gaara help making all your favorites for dinner—Gaara almost caused a fire so he had to help Zabuza with the decorations. It was funny because Zabuza kept complaining and he was pouting!" Naruto nearly fell because of hard he was laughing.

"I do not pout, brat," Zabuza growled.

Nothing in the entire world could have brought a bigger smile to Haku's face. There had been dancing and, even though Severus glared at him when they had suggested that he joined but Zabuza had pulled him out and forced him to sway to the music.

"Come on and dance papa!" Haku urged, grabbing a long fingered hand and pulling him away from Zabuza. Severus stared at him for a long time before letting out a loud sigh. Haku thought that he wouldn't dance with him but soon he was dancing in a rather flowing matter, keeping in perfect beat with the music. Soon Gaara and Naruto had joined them and they were all laughing and mimicking the willowy man.

After the fun dancing, the music was turned down quite a bit and they dug into cake and dinner before dinner! Zabuza had even told a joke that made everyone, including their papa, laugh. Haku had never seen the man's face light up like that but it was awesome.

Then there were gifts to be handed out. Naruto had gotten him a pretty music box with a softly spinning ballerina inside; Zabuza had gotten him a beautiful porcelain mask with a red swirl and four small marks on it and a pretty green kimono; and Severus had given him an anklet with dancing figures on it and a beautiful portrait of their family. He didn't know how Severus did it but the picture actually moved. The tree actually swayed in the soft wind while the bunnies bounced around. Zabuza was leaning under the tree, cleaning a blade while looking out at them while Severus sat beside him with a book. Haku was petting one of the bunnies while Gaara and Naruto chased each other around.

"That… is amazing," Zabuza stated. Naruto and Gaara nodded with stunned faces.

"You would not believe the amount of magic that went into it… two potions kept me from falling unconscious. Quite a few stops the picture from being destroyed," Severus stated, preening under the obvious praises.

"Thank you all!" Haku gushed, looking at his gifts.

"Um… Haku?" Gaara came forward, holding something behind his back. Haku picked up his head and stared at the redhead. He didn't have a lot of time with Gaara like he did Naruto seeing as the boy was so much more outgoing and talkative than the smaller boy.

"Here," the boy pushed something in his hands. Haku looked at the necklace, staring at the phial tied to it. Inside was sand but it wasn't just any sand. The sand swirled inside the jar like a mini sandstorm.

"This… this is your sand?" Haku whispered, looking up at the redhead. Gaara nodded with a small smile.

"I didn't know what to get you so I… thought but if you don't like it—," Haku cut the fumbling Suna-native off with a tackling hug though a burst of sand stopped the younger boy from being hurt. He sat up and looked down at his brother.

"This is the best birthday I could ever hope for."

(**)

So Zabuza gave Haku his mask, color me cliché. And so Severus had to have the best gift, he's an ambitious Slytherin after all.