It was a nice warm day in June and the Watson boys were enjoying a play date with Dream. It had been Techno's one request for his birthday since the day itself had been missed due to 'last second events'.

At least that was what their mother had called it during the usual call to their grandparents. Both sets of grandparents were generally really good about never missing the birthday calls for him or his brothers and this had been no different.

Though, it had shifted quickly from the usual 'congratulations' and life update chatter into the also usual 'adult only' conversation. It was expected and also generally how the calls tended to go after the grandparents had exhausted their questions. Techno had been sent out of the room to play with his brother's and guest while their mother stayed behind to talk.

But, that was fine by Techno. He didn't like it when the calls went on too long and he was eager to play with Dream again. It had been some time since school went out for the summer. Dream had also apparently gone off with his mother somewhere for a while too. This was really the best excuse to get to meet up again.

As of now the boys were all outside in the backyard just enjoying the weather. Wilbur had his ukulele out and was strumming it absently now and again as they talked. Techno was showing Dream the progress of the potatoes he and their mother had planted together. They already had flowers blooming on them.

As for Tommy, he was sitting rather peacefully on his little blanket with his toys and snacks around like in a personal picnic. He would look up at Wilbur from time to time but hadn't made any real noises or demands. At least, not ones there weren't directed at his toys.

Until now that is.

"Wilby." Tommy began, a pouty whine already in his voice.

Wilbur rolled his eyes as he glanced down at his baby brother.

"What do you want Tommy?" He asked fully aware it was going to be a 'request'.

"I'm thirsty." Tommy stated, lifting his sippy cup to show it was empty.

"Ok?"

"It's empty." Tommy explained further as he now shook the cup for good measure.

"Ok?"

"It needs more." Tommy whined louder now as Wil failed to make a move to help him.

"Wilbur, stop being a butt." Techno complained from where he stood at the garden bed still.

He was watching the exchange with annoyance and gave his older brother a flat look to express it. Wilbur, however, didn't seem at all bothered and just gave a shrug with one of his usual jerky smirks.

"I'm not being a butt. I'm just waiting for Tommy to use his right words." He replied smuggly.

"I need more!" Tommy demanded louder as his frustration grew.

"and?" Wilbur questioned again, this time even laughing when Tommy flailed his cup in growing anger.

"Is he trying to make Tommy cry?" Dream asked in a false whisper as he leaned towards Techno.

"No, but its what's going to happen." Techno answered with a huff.

Wilbur really wasn't going to do anything until he got what he wanted. Which in this case was for Tommy to 'use his proper words' for what he was asking for. But, he wasn't going to tell Tommy that because then his little game would be over. Tommy was good about using his words when reminded but Wilbur had gotten into the habit of riling him up about it instead.

Which left Techno having to manage between the two more often than not. At least, if he didn't feel like hearing Tommy's cries while Wil got in trouble.

"Its okay, Tommy. I'll refill it for you." Techno offered as he approached the small blond, "I think mom made lemonade today for us. Do you want that or more apple juice?"

"Apple! Apple!" Tommy cheered without hesitation.

In the split second that Techno had offered Tommy's sour mood quickly left him and he returned to be all smiles, cup held in air expectantly.

"Okay, but are you sure?" Techno asked even though he knew Tommy wouldn't change his mind.

Tommy never really cared much for lemonade, even when it was the super good stuff their mother would prepare. He seemed quite content to stick to his usual choices for now.

At being re-questioned though Tommy gave a pause. He really did seem to be reconsidering it before he looked at Techno directly.

"Can I have orange juice?"

It was a simple enough question but Techno obviously knew better. Tommy was usually only given orange juice in the morning at breakfast and then apple or grape juice during the rest of the day. Their mother would have told him 'no', but...Techno didn't see why not. Tommy was being really good right now. He even used all his words.

"Okay."

The smile that broke out on Tommy's face was worth the bending of the routine.

"Can you get me some lemonade while in there?" Wil asked as he leaned back in his seat.

Techno made a face at his older brother who seemed far too comfortable in his opinion. He was going to take a page out of Wil's own book here and not give him what he wanted.

"No."

"Why not? You're going in anyway."

"I'm going in for Tommy."

"Yea, and you have two hands. Just bring me a cup." Wil snapped with a frown.

"I'm getting some for me and Dream too. I won't have hands for it." Techno argued back simply.

Wilbur opened his mouth to keep going but Dream spoke up ahead of him.

"That's okay. I'll come in too. I'll bring you a cup Wil." Dream offered with a smile.

Techno wanted to tell Dream not to bother, especially since Wilbur was now giving another smug look in response.

"Thank you, Dream. That wasn't so hard was it?" Wilbur added for good measure.

Techno was honestly surprised Dream wasn't saying anything to the clear sarcastic tone being used. However, Tommy was demanding his juice again as he was thirsty and Techno wasn't going to waste the time when things already seemed to be settled.

Techno waited until they were in the house before he turned to Dream about it.

"You didn't have to agree to that. You're a guest and he's being a jerk again." He stated bluntly.

"I know." Dream replied with a nod before giving Techno a wider smile, "But two can play at that game."

Techno furrowed his brow at that but Dream didn't elaborate. Trusting his friend though Techno let it drop for now.

X-x

It didn't take long for the boys to return to the yard. Techno carried Tommy's refilled sippy cup in one hand and his own drink in his other. Behind him Dream likewise sported two cups in hand wearing the same large grin as before.

Tommy, being eager for his juice, was quick to look up at their reemergence from the house and stopped his play instantly. He began to energetically give grabby hands towards his sippy cup with an added verbal demand of 'gimme'. Techno didn't bother to correct the behavior and instead just handed it over before patting his brother on the head.

Tommy was a brat, but he was still his baby brother.

"About time. What took yo-" Wilbur started before cutting himself off and glancing into the cup Dream had handed over.

When he looked up it was with a rather flat irritated expression as Dream smiled back innocently.

"You think your funny don't you?" Wil asked as he shook the empty cup.

"I don't know what you mean. You asked for a cup." Dream replied brightly without hesitation.

Wilbur looked to Techno but was met with a shrug and a smile of his own.

"You didn't ask for it filled." Techno stated in similar tone as Dream.

Both Techno and Dream continued to stare at Wilbur a moment longer before bursting into laughter. Wil, in response, stuck his tongue out and made a mocking noise at them before pushing himself out of his seat.

"You both are so annoying." He muttered as he headed into the house himself now.

"You got your cup didn't you?" Dream asked around his giggling.

Techno could tell his brother was rolling his eyes by the tilting of his head and smiled wider. Dream had been right. Paying it back had felt rather good.

While Wilbur was off fetching his own drink Techno and Dream had decided to join Tommy down on his little picnic blanket. They weren't joining in his play but Tommy was happy enough to stop and tell them all about it anyway. Tommy was mid ramble when a loud grumble noise startled the lot of them. It took Techno a moment to figure it came from Tommy, who now had a hand over his tummy.

"Are you hungry, Tommy?" Techno asked with a frown.

Usually Tommy demanded food at the slightest suggestion of being hungry. Hearing his stomach make a noise was...weird. There was also the fact that there were still snacks on the blanket with him that he wasn't touching at all.

The look on Tommy's face was confused as he pouted down at the food on his blanket. He didn't answer Techno for a moment prompting him to ask again. The second time had Tommy shaking his head slowly as if he still wasn't sure.

"Maybe, its an upset tummy noise?" Dream suggested as he readjusted himself on the blanket.

As Techno opened his mouth to say more another noise came from the small blond. It seemed to startle Tommy just as much the second time before it started to giggle at it. He patted his stomach twice and waited happily.

"He doesn't seem to mind it." Techno commented with confusion.

"Should we tell your mom just in case?" Dream asked with a tilt of his head as if debating something.

"Well, if he isn't crying he should be fine?" Techno reasoned, though he didn't sound entirely sure.

"...what if its poop?" Dream asked quieter.

At this Techno gave a longer pause. It...wasn't off the table. He'd seen a few incidents of Tommy going from full scale play into either throwing up bombing a room with poop smell without so much as a change of expression.

He glanced to the house then, Wilbur still not having come out and so not available to inform their mother. Not that Techno thought he might.

"Can you watch him a minute?" He asked Dream nervously.

Dream nodded a bit awkwardly as he was mid sip of his lemonade. He also gave a confirming hum that Techno decided was good enough.

Getting to his feet once more Techno hurried towards the house.

X-x

Dream waited until Techno was out of sight before he looked to Tommy. The kid was still happily waiting for his tummy to make another noise, hand raised as if planning to slap it when it happened.

"Hey, Tommy. Want to try this?" Dream asked as he held up the little lemon slice that had been floating in his drink.

Tommy looked up curiously and Dream put on his very best convincing smile.

X-x

"Where's Tommy?"

Techno paused at the question just as he was passing the kitchen door. Wilbur had just been about to head back outside when Techno came in, alone. It was their parents rule that at least one of them had to be with Tommy if they were playing outside after all. It wasn't like Techno to break said rule, even if Dream was potentially there with him instead.

"His tummy is making funny noises. I have to tell mom." Techno answered with a small worried frown, "Dream said he'd watch him til I got back."

" 'Funny noise' how?" Wil asked ignoring the second part.

Before a second answer was given both boys paused at the sound of a baby's whine. It quickly grew into a wailing and both boys bolted towards the backdoor.

Outside Dream sat across from Tommy with a large smile on his face as he seemed to be trying not to laugh. Tommy on the other hand had his face pinched up with tears already starting to fall. His mouth was open and curled weirdly as drool dribbled freely out with his crying.

"What Happened?!" Techno asked with his own distress as he popped down beside the toddler.

Dream, instead of answering, let out his held in hysterics which were hard enough to cause him to need to hug his middle. In turn Techno let out his ever familiar whale song whine as he struggled to comfort Tommy.

Wilbur didn't know what to do and just watched. He was torn between laughing and also checking on his brother.

On the one hand the faces Tommy was making were pretty funny. But, on the other he didn't know what was wrong with Tommy to make him make those faces. He'd feel bad if it were for a bad reason.

When Tommy looked at him with one eye squinted and the other half open, mouth still oddly twisted Wilbur couldn't help it.

He laughed.

He laughed hard, hands moving to hug his own stomach just like Dream.

This only seemed to make Tommy more upset though because his cries got that much louder. The tears were more rapid and, Wilbur noted with a bit of sobering worry, his face was blooming an angry shade of red. The wails of distress turned into bawling sobs that shook Tommy's little body where he sat.

At this point Wilbur was no longer laughing but moved to help Techno in calming his baby brother. Though now being so worked up the efforts didn't seem to be doing much.

At least Dream seemed to also realize at this point that the game, whatever it was, was over. He was quick to jump to his feet and ran into the house. Wilbur didn't know what he was up to, but he hoped it was useful.

When moments later their mother came rushing through the door Wilbur let out a sigh of relief.

X-x

In the end it was nothing serious.

Dream admitted to giving Tommy a bit of lemon to see his faces. It just so happened that Tommy had never been given a lemon before and had been startled by it. According to their mother it wasn't uncommon for babies to react that way, which is why they had been planning to wait for Tommy to be a bit older for it.

Feeling bad about it Dream apologized to Tommy as well as the boys many times. Tommy himself didn't seem to care now that the lemon taste was out of his mouth. Techno, however, hesitated until Tommy really seemed fine. Wilbur didn't really care himself since Tommy wasn't hurt. Though, he was confused.

When asked why Dream wanted to do that to Tommy at all the answer surprised him. Apparently his sister made 'the cutest faces' and he wanted to see if Tommy's were the same.

For the next hour Dream talked about his own baby sister. Techno seemed eager to one day meet her.