30th Birthday
Speculation Fic on how I think 5x07 could go
"I can't believe you did all this," TK said, leaning into his husband's side as he looked around at their friends gathered in the loft for TK's surprise party.
"It's your birthday," Carlos shrugged, "I wanted to do something special for you."
"Well thank you," TK smiled, leaning in and kissing Carlos, "I love this. I love you."
A knock on the door sounded and TK looked around, confused. Everyone was already here?
"I got it!" Paul called, walking over and sliding open the door.
"Hi there-" he started, but a small figure darted past him into the loft before he could say any more.
"TK!" the little boy shrieked joyfully.
"Jonah?" TK gasped in surprise, kneeling just in time to catch his brother and scoop him into a hug. He looked at the man still standing in the doorway with Paul and had to blink rapidly to keep the tears away. He crossed the room quickly and threw his free arm around the man, the other still holding securely to his little brother.
"Hey kiddo," Enzo said, hugging TK tightly, "Happy birthday."
"I can't believe you're here," TK said and then turned to look at his husband as Carlos came up next to him, a knowing smile on his face.
"You knew?" TK said.
"Of course," Carlos said smugly, and TK shook his head, smiling even wider. The others came over to greet the new arrivals and TK was delighted at finally being able to formally introduce his stepfather to the rest of his friends and family.
However, none of them seemed to notice that one member of the party did not come forward to greet the new guest. Owen stayed back, taking another drink of his beer as he stared at the man who kept ruining his life.
"This is for you," Enzo said, handing TK a wrapped gift and accepting the drink Carlos handed him as he joined his husband and step-father-in-law on the couch.
"You didn't have to do that," TK said, "Having you guys here is more than enough."
He looked across the room at where Jonah had quickly been included in whatever game Charlie and the twins were playing.
"Just open it lad," Enzo said, patting his knee, "Not everyday you turn thirty. Couldn't turn up here empty handed."
TK relented and tore away the wrapping paper. He peeled back the bubble wrap and immediately felt the tears well in his eyes. No amount of blinking would stop these ones.
On a canvas no bigger than a piece of paper was a hyper realistic painting of Gwyn and TK when the now thirty-year-old was only ten.
TK blew out a breath as a tear dripped down his face. He felt a hand rubbing up and down his back as another rested on his knee.
"It's beautiful," he whispered, turning to look at Enzo. "Thank you so much."
He leaned into the older man as Enzo wrapped him in another tight hug.
"She'd be so proud of you kiddo," Enzo whispered, "So, so proud."
TK squeezed his eyes against the fresh wave of tears and just nodded, unable to get his voice to cooperate.
"Oh my god, that is beautiful," a voice said from behind them and TK turned to see Marjan and Nancy standing there looking at the painting over his shoulder.
"How old were you there?" Nancy asked.
"Nine? I think?" TK asked, looking at Enzo for confirmation.
"Ten," he corrected, "We took the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty for Gwyn's birthday."
"I've always wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty!" Mateo joined in, also looking at the painting, "Dude, you and your look the exact same!"
"Yeah, yeah, TK was adorable," Nancy rolled her eyes, "Tell us more about little TK. I bet he was a hooligan."
"Yeah, Cap's told us a little bit and Gwyn did too when she lived here," Paul added, "But I have a feeling you've got some good stories."
"And his feelings are never wrong," Marjan stated.
"Well…" Enzo hesitated for a moment, "Alright, there was this one time…"
TK groaned, but couldn't stop smiling as Enzo started regaling them with tales of a young TK.
Owen took another drink of his new beer as he listened from his spot at the kitchen island.
Enzo walked over and grabbed himself a drink from the fridge. He looked back across the room and smiled as he watched Jonah talking animatedly to his big brother. God it was so nice to finally have the two of them together. It had been too long…
It had killed him to miss TK and Carlos' wedding. But with both he and Jonah coming down with Covid two days before there was no way they could attend. He'd felt awful having to miss it. Not just because TK had been disappointed, but he felt like he was letting Gwyn down by not being there.
"You're not his dad you know."
Enzo blinked and turned around. Owen sat there, nursing a beer with two empty bottles on the counter next to him.
"I'm sorry?" Enzo said, sure he'd misheard.
"You should be," Owen stood, stumbling slightly and Enzo guess he'd had more than just the three beers.
"You think you can just show up here with your fancy gifts and your stories about him as if you had any party in raising him?" Owen said, his low voice full of vitriol.
"Owen, look, I'm not here to cause any trouble," Enzo said placatingly. "I know we've never really got on, but I just wanted to see TK on his birthday, and I wanted Jonah to see his big brother."
"You're not his dad," Owen said again, and Enzo sighed.
"I'm not trying to be his dad Owen," Enzo said, "But I was there when he was growing up. For twenty-two years I've been party of his life, and I don't take that for granted."
"You saying I do?" Owen snapped, getting closer to Enzo's face.
"I'm saying," Enzo took a step back, "You're drunk. It's TK's birthday and now is not the time for this conversation. Have some water, sober up, TK doesn't need to see you like this."
Enzo picked up his drink and turned to walk away, but Owen wasn't having it.
"Hey!" he grabbed Enzo's shoulder and spun the other man around before pulling his fist back.
"Dad!" TK shouted, rushing forward and dropping next to Enzo where he'd landed with a crash. Judd and Tommy also rushed over, Tommy joining the two on the floor while Judd stepped in front of Owen.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" TK asked, glaring up at Owen for a second before turning his attention back to Enzo. Blood was pouring steadily from the man's now crooked nose.
TK and Tommy helped him stand escorted him into the bathroom so Tommy could get a better look. Nancy followed closely behind.
"Daddy," Jonah sobbed, scared at the sight of the blood on his father's face and the sudden change in atmosphere.
"Shh, he's okay buddy," Carlos reassured the little boy, holding him close and rubbing his back. "TK's going to take care good care of him, okay?"
"TK saves people," Jonah mumbled, wiping his teary eyes.
"That's right, he does," Carlos nodded, "And so do Tommy and Nancy and they're looking after your daddy, okay?"
"Okay," Jonah said sadly, burying his face in Carlos' neck.
"Tell you what, something that will help daddy is ice," Carlos said, walking over to the freezer. "Let's you and me get some ice for him, think you can help me with that?"
Jonah nodded, perking up a bit at the thought of being able to help his dad just like his big brother.
Carlos sat Jonah on the counter and pulled out the ice cube tray. He nodded gratefully at Judd as he moved Owen further away from them. He felt another wave of gratitude when he looked back into the main part of the loft and saw the rest of their family starting to clean up the remnants of the party.
He saw Judd talking to Owen who still looked pissed off and Carlos shook his head.
Some days he really couldn't stand his father-in-law.
TK and Tommy got Enzo seated while Nancy came in carrying TK's work bag.
"I'm so sorry," TK apologized, "God, Enzo… I'm so so sorry."
"Stop apologizing lad," Enzo said, "Not your fault."
"Yeah, TK doesn't do 'not his fault'," Nancy said, applying more bandages to Enzo's nose.
"That is definitely broken," Tommy said, "Normally I would insist you go to the hospital, but I don't want your first visit to Austin to be spent in an ER waiting room. So, if you're okay I can set it here?"
That would be wonderful," Enzo agreed, "I'd rather spend my time here with my boys than in a hospital room. For either of us." He added the last part with a pointed look at TK.
Normally the younger man would have laughed, but he couldn't get past the amount of blood on his stepfather's face.
It took Tommy no time to reset Enzo's nose and the bleeding stopped quickly after. Tommy and Nancy cleaned up and then joined the others in the main room, leaving just TK and Enzo as the older man cleaned the blood off his face.
He was just finishing up removing the last few specks when he caught TK's eyes in the mirror and turned.
"Hey," he said softly, resting a hand on TK's shoulder, "I'm okay."
"I know," TK said quickly, "I just… you were on the ground and… there was so much blood so quickly… I can't believe he did that to you."
"It's not your fault kiddo," Enzo said, hugging his stepson. "And I'm okay, really."
They pulled apart to a knock on the door and Carlos poked his head in.
"Hey, sorry, Jonah has something for you if you're okay?" he asked, smiling apologetically.
"Honestly Carlos, I'm impressed you managed to keep him away this long," Enzo laughed, opening the door fully so the four-year-old could barrel in and cling to his dad's legs.
"Hey little man, it's alright," Enzo scooped the boy up.
"We brought you ice daddy," Jonah held up the towel wrapped baggie of ice cubes he had meticulously counted out with Carlos.
"Well thank you," Enzo said, smiling brightly despite the pain he was clearly feeling. "That is exactly what I need right now."
He held Jonah in one arm and wrapped his other around TK's shoulders.
"Look at that," he said, "Got both my boys taking care of me. I must have done something right."
When the three men and Jonah rejoined the main room, most of their friends and family had gone. The only ones remaining were Owen, Judd, and Tommy.
"You guys," TK looked around at the clean apartment, "You didn't have to clean up."
"It's not a problem," Judd shook his head, "One less thing for you guys to worry about."
"The others say goodbye and happy birthday," Tommy said, "They felt bad leaving without saying anything, but they didn't want to intrude, and said they'll text you both later."
TK nodded, his smiled dropping as he looked at his father. He walked closer to where his dad say, but it wasn't until TK was right next to him that Owen even looked up.
"Look, son," Owen started, reaching for TK's hand, but TK yanked it away.
"Go home dad," he said softly, "We'll talk when you're sober"
He turned and walked into the kitchen, but Owen stood quickly and followed. He stumbled, Judd catching him before he could face plant.
"Owen-" the other man started, but Owen shook him off.
"TK, listen-"
"No dad, you listen," TK whipped around, "You don't get to come into my home and hurt people I care about."
"TK, he's not-"
"He's family, dad," TK said, trying to keep his voice steady despite how angry he was so he wouldn't scare his brother even more. "Whether you like it or not and trust me, everyone know you don't like it, Enzo is family. My family. You don't get to come in here and just start punching people because, what? You had too much to drink and you don't like him? Well too bad. I don't care what excuse you have; you don't ever get to put your hands on someone I care, especially in front of Jonah!"
Owen was quiet for a moment, "TK…"
"Go home dad," TK said, turning away from his father once again.
Owen stepped forward, intent on pushing them discussing this now, but a new voice stopped him.
"He said go home Owen."
Owen turned to see Carlos standing there with his arms crossed.
"No offense Carlos, but this doesn't concern you," Owen brushed him off.
"Actually, it does concern me," Carlos said, walking swiftly past Owen and standing at TK's side, wrapping his arm protectively around his waist.
"My husband told you to leave," Carlos said firmly, "So you need to leave. Now."
Owen stared at the pair for a moment, but TK wouldn't look at him.
"Fine," he held his hands up in surrender and stumbled his way out the door.
"Judd," TK said softly, "Don't let him drive home like that? Please?"
"Don't worry little brother, I got him," Judd nodded before following the older Strand out the door. Tommy followed behind, telling them to call her if they needed anything.
TK felt himself deflate and wrapped both arms around his husband's shoulders.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"Don't need to thank me baby," Carlos replied, "I'm always here, okay? We're a team."
TK nodded, smiling into his husband's shoulder as he pulled back slightly and turned to smile at his stepfather and baby brother.
His birthday wasn't anything like he'd thought it would be and he knew there would be so much drama to unfold tomorrow. But for the rest of the evening, TK was just looking forward to spending some time with three of the most important people in his life.
Owen's a dick in this, sorry about that
I've never written bad!dad Owen before so this was honestly kind of fun and I figured Owen's clearly going through it this season, he's never had a healthy relationship with his anger before so I thought I would explore that here.
I'm so excited wefinally get Jonah back in a couple weeks and we get to meet Enzo. Such big parts of TK's life and we finally get to see these characters interact on screen!
