*Requested by NewYorkChicago22061940*
Jordan- 8
Everyday for the past few weeks Jordan had seen her father work extremely hard, working case after case. She had seen him in the mornings before school and sometimes when she'd go to bed but other than that she hadn't seen him. Either her brother, Erin, Alvin, or Trudy would watch her.
The seven year old knew her father's birthday was approaching and she wanted to do something for him since he's been working hard and needed some time for himself.
One afternoon Justin had picked her up from school and then called Erin, the elder Voight was confused on why she wanted their surrogate sister to be called.
"Jo Jo, what's up?" Justin asked.
"I'll tell you when Erin gets here". Jordan replied.
"Is someone picking on you?"
"No it's a surprise".
Still confused he went along with what his sister wanted, after a few minutes Erin had arrived to the Voight home.
"Justin! Jo!" Erin called.
"In here". Justin called back.
She went and found her surrogate siblings, Justin was in the kitchen making a snack while Jordan was at the table writing stuff down.
"Hey Jo, whatcha doin?" Erin says to her sister.
"I'm planning something for daddy and I need some help". Jordan replied, looking over at her.
"What are you planning?" Justin asked, coming into the room.
"Well daddy's birthday is coming up and I wanted to do a surprise party".
"Jo that's a very nice thing you wanna do". Erin commented.
"I'm down for it". Justin says.
The trio then began to plan the party, Justin was in charge of the food and drinks, Erin was in charge of the cake, and Jordan was in charge of the invitations. They all agreed that Hank needed this, he needed a break, sometime for himself, and he needed time with his family.
Jordan then called Trudy, Alvin and his family, Kenny, and Jimmy, they all agreed to help and to keep it from Hank. Once that was finished they all had to hide the stuff before Hank came home.
"So Jo, you know what you wanna get dad for his birthday?" Justin asked his sister.
"I was thinking maybe get him something with our names on it". The eight year old answered.
"I like that idea".
"I do too". Erin said.
By the time Hank had gotten home, he was tired and worn out he greeted his children with a tired smile. After dinner Jordan went up and got ready for bed, Hank was ready to pass out and just as he was about to clean the kitchen Justin had stopped him.
"Pop go to bed, you need some sleep believe me I got it". Justin said to his father.
"Justin, I'm fine". Hank replied, tiredly.
"Go check on Jo then get some rest. You really need some rest".
Normally Hank wouldn't back down from a debate but he was too tired and not in the mood. He headed upstairs and checked on his little girl, Jordan was dressed in red plaid pajamas she held a book in her hands. She always loved it when her father or brother read to her, it was one of her favorite things. Hank playfully peeked his head in his daughter's room with a smile.
"Ready for bed sweetheart?" Hank asked.
"Yup". Jordan replied, still holding the book.
He went over and got the book from her hands, he laid on the bed just as Jordan curled up next to him. After a while of reading the eight year old had fallen asleep in her father's side, Hank was also passed out the book was still open lying on his chest. He held a protective hand on his baby girl.
Justin was finished the kitchen he went to go check on his father and sister, he got to his sister's doorway when he saw that the both of them were fast asleep. A smile appeared on his face, he knew that even in his sleep his father was still protective. He cut the light off leaving them to sleep, the elder man knew his father needed the rest with as hard as he's been working the past few weeks he also knew that this surprise party was just the thing his father needed.
Over the next few days everyone had managed to hide it from Hank and luckily he didn't suspect anything. Everyone was surprised that he didn't suspect anything, normally Hank would pick up on facts but he hasn't. Yet.
When he was at the office, Alvin, Kenny, and Jimmy were very careful about what they said to each other about the party. Sometimes they managed to not even bring it up, they didn't wanna spoil their niece's surprise for her father.
It was the day of the party and everyone acted normal, Jordan had went to school but the entire day she was bouncing with excitement she hoped her father would love the party. While the eight year old was at school, Justin and Erin spent the day decorating the house in balloons, streamers, they even managed to get a huge banner made.
Once all the decorations were up, the two went out and got the food and cake. They picked up some vegetable, fruit, and sandwich platters, they got pizza. They got a yellow cake with half vanilla frosting and the other half chocolate frosting. So far everything went off without a hitch.
Erin was still setting up and when Justin looked at his watch he saw that it was time to get his sister from school.
"Hey Erin, I'm gonna go get Jo from school then get dad's gift". Justin informed his surrogate sister.
"Alright, I got it here". Erin replied.
"Be back in a little bit".
He then left to go get his little sister. Jordan was outside her school waiting for her brother, the eight year old was having trouble containing her excitement about the party. When she seen her brother approaching she ran to him and Justin got down and let his sister crash into him as he lifted her up.
"Ready to get dad's gift?" Justin asked her.
"Yup". Jordan replied excitedly.
He set his sister back on her feet as they went to the jewelry store to pick up the gift, they had gotten Hank two dog tags. One one of them it was a small picture of Justin, Erin, and Jordan on it with an engraving on the back of it. One the other one it had their names on it, after picking them up the siblings headed home.
By the time they got back home Alvin and his family had arrived followed by Trudy, Kenny, and Jimmy. A huge smile planted on Jordan's face, it may have been a small party but she had a feeling it would make her father happy. Justin was the look out for his father and when he saw the SUV approaching he called to everyone.
"He's coming! Everyone hide!" He called.
Quickly cutting the light off and everyone hid. Hank arrived home after yet another long day at the office, he rubbed his hand down his face tiredly all he wanted to do was spend some time with his children before getting some sleep. Getting out of his car he headed inside, he unlocked the front door to his house then cut the light on.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled.
Caught off guard Hank looked up with a confused look then had a smile. "What's this?"
"It's a surprise party. For your birthday". Justin answered.
Hank was shocked, he'd been working so much that he forgot his own birthday. How could he forget something so important like this?
"Plus you can thank this little one for all of this". Kenny says, patting his niece on the head.
Jordan ran over to her father and he scooped her up, the smile still planted on his face. He pushed some hair behind his little girl's ear.
"Do you like it daddy?" Jordan asked excitedly.
"I love it baby, thank you". Hank replied.
He set his little girl down then hugged his son and Erin then everyone else, they all talked, ate, soon it was time for the cake and everyone sang. Hank blew the candle out and Justin cut the cake, once Jordan got a plate a smirk grew on her face as she took a glop of frosting a smeared it on her father's cheek causing everyone to laugh.
Hank then put his plate down and scooped up his little girl and tickled her till she caved, he kissed her head. Soon it was time for presents, Jordan wanted their gift to be last. Trudy got him a new watch, Alvin got him a bottle of his favorite whiskey, Kenny and Jimmy each got him a bottle of his favorite scotch.
Jordan was snow standing in front of her brother and surrogate sister, she was never one for getting nervous or scared. She held the small box in her hand as she walked back over to her father.
"That's from the three of us Pop". Justin told his father.
"We hope you like it". Erin added.
The eight year old handed her father the small box and he took it the smile still planted on his face. He opened it then pulled out the two dog tags. The small tags were on a long beaded silver chain. He looked at the one tag with the picture of Justin, Erin, and Jordan. Tears burned in his eyes as he looked at it. He then turned it over and read the engraving on it.
To one of best father's on earth, happy birthday. Together we celebrate another year with you. Another year of love, laughter, and fun. We don't know what we would do without you. You are our rock, our shield, our protector. You're our best friend, but most of all you're our father and we couldn't ask for a better one than you. You're also a superhero to us. We are the princesses and prince to one of the best kings ever.
This is a small reminder of how much we mean to you. We love you to the moon and back. Forever.
Love, Justin, Erin, and Jordan
After reading the engraving Hank looked to the other tag to see his son's name, Erin's and his little girl's name. His smile grew bigger, he felt something wet come down his cheeks till he wiped them away. Jordan looked at her father.
"Do you like it daddy?"
Hank chuckled as he slid it on and tucked it under his shirt he then proceed to pick up his little girl and kiss her head.
"I loved it sweetheart. Thank you".
He then set her down then hugged his son and Erin, then faced them. "Thank you".
"You're welcome". Erin says.
"You're welcome Pop". Justin said.
Once the party was over Erin stayed to help clean up, she and Justin were cleaning. Jordan was fast asleep on the couch and Hank gently picked her up and she began to stir.
"D'ddy?" Jordan spoke sleepily.
"Shh go back to sleep baby". Hank says gently.
The eight year old curled into her father as he carried her to her room, carefully Hank laid his sleeping princess down on the bed and covered her up with the blanket.
"Sleep tight princess".
He kissed her head and quietly left the room he headed back downstairs to see everything cleaned and all the food put away. He looked at the two for a second.
"Thank you, for everything". Hank said.
"You're welcome". They said.
He hugged them once again then as he was walking away Erin spoke up from her spot.
"We hope you like your gift". Erin spoke.
"I love it". Hank replied.
Hank went to bed that night with a huge smile on his face, he may have forgotten his birthday but he got the best surprise ever. He was able to spend time with his family and his friends, he had the best party, he got some of the best gifts ever. As he laid in his bed he pulled the dog tags out from under his shirt to look at them.
He looked at the picture of the three precious gifts in his life, he ran his thumb over the picture as he admired it. He was the one who took the picture of them while they were having a family day. It was a day he would never forget. He turned it over to read the engraving again, he gently took his thumb over it as he read it. Hank then looked at the other tag with the names on it as the smile grew bigger on his face.
"Daddy?" A small voice asked from the doorway.
Hank tucked the dog tags back under his shirt as he looked by his door to see his little girl there, she was still half asleep and kept rubbing her eyes.
"Come here sweetheart". Hank replied.
The eight year old went to her father and got in his bed curling up next to him, Hank wrapped a protective arm around his baby pulling her close.
"Did you like the party?"
"I loved it, thank you".
"You deserved it".
He then kissed the top of her head, Jordan gripped her father's shirt in her small fist. She had missed her father terribly the past few weeks, the most she seen him was in the mornings and sometimes before she went to bed. Hank noticed something was wrong with his little girl, he glanced down at her with a look of worry.
"Sweetheart what's wrong?"
"I missed you daddy".
"I missed you too baby".
"Do you think we can have a day together? A father daughter day?"
"Sure sweetheart, we can do whatever you want".
Jordan's eyes grew heavier and heavier. "G'night daddy".
"Sleep tight baby".
He kissed her head one last time before going to sleep. He may have gotten nice things for his birthday but nothing could ever replace the three most precious gifts in his life as long as he had them that's all he needed.