Come on birthday boy, time for bed."
"N'sleepy."
"Course you are little fella, you can't keep your eyes open."
"I'm big boy now Daddy. Don't need bed." James chuckles quietly. Sam had been exactly he same when he turned five; convinced he was now a grown up and could have coffee and was allowed to stay up late. He had still expected a bedtime story though.
"Yes you do Ben. Even grown ups need bed. Go on, upstairs. We'll get you ready for bed."
"But-"
"Benny. Now." The little boy pouts adorably, but he does as he's told, dragging Sam up the stairs after him. Holly and James smile as they can hear Ben insisting that Sam needs to be a rocket.
The little boy had become obsessed with outer space a few months ago, and it was soon clear it wasn't a passing phase. He'd announced to the room at large one afternoon while he was drawing, that he was going to be an astronaut and be the first person to find aliens.
Suddenly there was a surprised squeal from above and soon the patter of feet sounded down the stairs.
"Think he's found my other present then?" James says to Holly.
"Quite possibly" She grins as Ben comes running into the room, holding a small box wrapped in garishly bright paper.
"Mummy look what I foun' on my bed!"
"Oooh, where'd you think that came from Benny?"
"Er...You an' Daddy?"
"No. Who else?" Ben cocks his head and then turns around to look at the arm chair.
"Gran'ad?" James smiles.
"I couldn't give it to you earlier"
"Why not?"
"Because...it only works in the dark." Ben's eyes widen and he rattles the box. James knows what's in there, as do Holly and Sam. Sam had been a bit concerned at first; 'Does it have flashing lights Dad?', but James had made sure it didn't. He'd asked at the shop and he'd cycled through every possibly setting the thing had when Sam had taken Ben for a check-up the week before.
"Can I open it Gran'ad?"
"Yeah, but lets get you up to bed first eh?"
"But then I can't play."
"Yeah you can, this toy needs you to be in bed for it to work." Hathaway stood up stiffly."Come on Scalliwag, up you go." Ben runs back up the stairs and James smiles. "I'll put him to bed. You two relax for a bit yeah?"
"Cheers Dad."
.
Ben has already opened the parcel by the time he gets up there. He's holding the box and staring in confusion at the picture on the front. James lowers himself into the chair, resting his walking stick against the wall. They'd bought the armchair for the room when Ben had started sleeping in the room alone. If he had a seizure at night, there really wasn't enough space on the child size bed for any of the adults to spend any significant amount of time there watching over him.
His grandson hands him the box and smiles, face all childish excitement.
"What is it Gran'ad? How you do it?" James grins and opens the box, pulling a small black orb on a stand out of it. He puts it on the kid's bedside table and Ben immediately crawls over to him. "What's if fooor?"
"We better have a look eh?" His grandson nods eagerly. "Well, first, you need to be all snuggled in bed."
"Not need bed for a toy Gran'ad."
"Yes you do. It says so in the instructions."
"Maybe the 'structions is wrong?" The little boy says hopefully. James chuckles.
"Nope, they definitely say you need to be in bed. Go on, have you got Rabbit?" Ben wriggled his hand around his pillow and nodded as he pulled out the knitted rabbit he's had since he was a month old.
"Got him."
"And are you all cosy in bed?"
"Hmmm..Yeah!"
"Alright then kiddo. Close your eyes then."
"Not going sleep."
"No I know mate, but you need to close your eyes so its a surprise don't you?" Ben obediently closes his eyes, and James quickly plugs the device into the wall and flicks the light off. He turns the orb on and straight away, the little orb projects the universe over the whole room. "Open your eyes then Benny." The boy does so, and immediately gasps in wonder.
"There's stars in my bedroom Gran'ad." James grins, happy that the present has had the desired effect. "Where they coming from?" Hathaway points to the orb, which slowly rotating.
"This shines light through and makes all the stars appear."
"Wow" Ben breathes. He reaches a hand up, trying to grab one and James can't help but laugh.
"You can't grab them mate, they are on the wall."
"Jus' like you can't grab real stars cos they all the way away." The boys stares upwards and then points at one star. "What that one called?"
"That one is called Orion." James presses a button or two on the orb stand and the other stars fade out to show just Orion and lines joining the parts of the constellation together. "Its also called the 'Great Hunter'."
"What he hunting up in space though?"
"I dunno mate, what do you think?"
"...Maybe aliens. But only bad aliens. Like the ones what try and zap with their ray guns."
"Orion, the great hunter of nasty aliens. I think you're right kiddo."
"W'bout that one?" James looks at where Ben is pointing. As he starts to explain, Ben wriggles himself out of the covers and crawls over to the side of the bed. Before James can say anything, Ben has crawled onto his lap and curled up there.
"Hey, that's not bed is it?"
"Want you Gran'ad." James' face softens and he leans over carefully and pulls the duvet to cover them both.
"I think we can ignore the instructions this one time eh mate?" Ben nods and then looks up again as James starts to explain all about The Plough.
Before long, Ben is fast asleep, one hand holding James' shirt and the other clutching Rabbit's arm. James quietly switches the planetarium off and gently lifts Ben into his bed, putting the duvet back over him and gently stroking his head.
"Happy birthday little fella. Sleep well."
Its less than three weeks before Ben can recite almost every constellation in the orbs database.