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It was Tommy’s favourite time of the year, something his younger self could never imagine thinking.
Today was his birthday.
A few years ago, Tommy would spend every birthday at the facility or in some foster family’s home who didn’t give a shit about him outside of a paycheck. There were no presents and certainly no fanfare since, more often than not, it went forgotten.
Tommy was always alone, and his birthday was always a harsh reminder. His parents were dead, and nobody wanted him, always too loud, too brash, too rude, too Tommy.
This year though, was different, just like the past two since he came to live with the Watsons, it would be amazing.
Tommy was practically vibrating with energy and ready to get out of bed, but he knew waiting would be worth it.
Only five minutes later, Tommy could hear Kristin’s little giggle and Phil's hushed whispers as he tried to quiet her outside of the door. Tommy also knew the twins had to be with them like usual; Wilbur probably snickering like crazy, excited about what he was about to do, and Techno standing awkwardly behind, happy to be there but out of place with his more energetic family members.
With a creak of the door as it opened, four pairs of footsteps shuffled into his room, hovering close to his bed, and then, on a whispered count of three, the strum of a guitar rang out, a crisp G chord playing.
“Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Tommy,
Happy birthday to you!”
The singing was loud and off-key beside Wilbur, but Tommy wouldn't change it for the world. Despite this, Tommy continued to pretend to be asleep, mumbling and turning over.
He could hear Techno scoff as Wilbur put down his guitar and sat on the bed, gently placing his hand on Tommy’s back.
That was the only warning Tommy got before placing his hand in Tommy’s hair and grinding his knuckle in, giving Tommy a noogie.
“OW! What the fuck Wilbur!” Tommy shouted, springing up and batting away Wilbur’s hands.
“I knew the gremlin was just pretending to sleep! No birthday hugs for you this year!”
Tommy glared at him, attempting to explode Wilbur's massive head with his mind as justice for the pain brought upon him.
“This is why Techno’s my favourite!” Tommy claimed, sticking his tongue out at Wilbur while Techno just snorted. Before Wilbur could start a fight over it (something he was definitely gearing up to do if his offended gasp meant anything), Phil took control.
“Wil, why couldn’t you just leave him alone? It’s his birthday, Mate,” Phil said with a sigh, walking up to Tommy and wrapping him in the hug he had expected to get from Wilbitch.
“Happy birthday Toms; Kristin made your favourite for breakfast,” His Da- Phil said.
“Is it waffles?” Tommy looked at Kristin with hopeful eyes.
Kristin smiled and nodded, opening her arms as Tommy barrelled into her.
“Thanks, Kristin, you’re the best,” Tommy whispered before turning away to look at his foster brothers.
“Last one to the table gets punched by Techno!” Tommy shouted before sprinting, ignoring Wilbur as he yelled something about cheating and favouritism.
It serves him right for the stunt he pulled this morning. Does no one respect the sanctity of birthday privileges anymore?!
Tommy skidded into the kitchen, rushing to his chair and sitting down, already finding waffles steaming in his place.
All they needed was syrup and butter. Ignoring as the rest of his family trickled into the kitchen and sat down (with Techno slapping Wilbur upside the head, who squawked and tried to fight back before Phil defended Techno in having the right to do it since he beat Wilbur), Tommy put the pre-cut butter onto his food and then drowned it in syrup.
It looked heavenly, just as Lady Prime intended waffles to be.
“You got enough waffles for that syrup, Mate?” Phil asked jokingly, staring at Tommy’s food with both awe and disgust.
To spite him, Tommy poured some more on with a deadpan stare, enjoying the scrunched-up face Phil gave him. Prime, before living here, Tommy could never imagine disrespecting his foster parents so blatantly unless he was trying to get kicked out, now though? He never feared Phil or anyone in the house. He actually trusted them fully, something that took him a while to come to terms with.
With all the syrup on and the rest of his foster family digging in, Tommy lifted up his waffle and took a big bite, enjoying the taste.
“Dad, Tommy’s eating with his hands again,” Techno snitched, making Phil turn away from his conversation with Kristin.
“Fuck you! I do what I want bitch! I’m the birthday man!” Tommy said through a mouthful of food.
“Birthday child, I think you mean,” Wilbur muttered. Tommy kicked him under the table. It was his birthday he could kick whoever he wanted, okay?
“Tommy…” Kristin warned, but she was struggling to keep a straight face.
“I’m fully innocent!” Tommy cried out, some food falling out of his mouth that he rushed to stuff back in. He would never want to waste food from the heavens.
“Eat with your mouth closed Toms,” Kristin sighed, clearly knowing it was a losing battle to argue (Tommy shook his head in agreement though, not that he actually followed through for more than ten seconds).
Breakfast was an uneventful affair, something Tommy loved. He treasured the moments when he could just be with his foster family, live in the moment, and not worry about anything.
He also loved sitting between Techno and Wilbur, not that he would ever tell them that (Tommy loved to complain about it loudly that he felt squished between them, but honestly, it made him feel safe and protected from anything that could come his way. When one of them reached across him, he didn’t feel the need to flinch back in fear).
“So Tommy-” Wilbur started, making a face when Tommy turned to look at him with syrup smeared around his mouth, “-are you planning on hanging out with Tubbo and Ranboo today? If you guys are going to the arcade, Dad will give you money,” Wilbur said with a smirk as Phil scowled but didn’t disagree. Prime, he was way too soft on his children- not that Tommy was his child, but still.
Tommy swallowed his food and gathered himself for a second, trying to keep himself from turning red as he went over the words he had practiced in his head the day before. For the past two birthdays, Tommy had spent them with his friends. Despite the Watsons always seeming disappointed by this, they still would give him some spending money, and Tommy would be on his way.
This year though, Tommy didn’t want to do that; he didn’t feel like he had to do it.
“I- I was wondering if we could all just hang out together this year. I heard the sequel to Up came out two days ago, and I want to see it with you guys since I saw the original for the first time with all of you anyway.” Tommy mumbled, not looking up, already knowing their faces were probably glowing with joy.
“Oh, of course, Tommy! That's a wonderful idea!” Kristin exclaimed, clapping her hands together (Tommy used to flinch at such a sound, but now it only made his heart feel warm).
“A baby movie with Tommy, what could be better,” Techno said sarcastically, but Tommy knew even without looking that he was just as thrilled as the rest of the family to finally be able to spend Tommy’s birthday with him.
“Oh, before we get ready, I need to give you something,” Kirstin suddenly said, getting up and moving quickly upstairs, the rest of the family pointedly ignoring the look Tommy sent their way.
“What is she getting?”
Tommy was suspicious. Presents were never done in the morning; they always waited until after the cake at night.
“You’ll see,” was the only answer Tommy got, Wilbur smiling like crazy while Techno looked embarrassed and Phil looked… nervous?
“Here!” Kristin suddenly said from behind Tommy, placing a present in front of him as he wiped his sticky hands on the napkin.
“He should definitely wash his hands first,” Techno insisted, rolling his eyes when Tommy tried to argue against it, but alas he was forced to wash his hands.
Tommy sat back down and was suddenly nervous. They were all staring at him, their anticipation palpable.
“It better not be a glitter bomb,” Tommy muttered, hearing Wilbur say something about how that would have been a good idea and Kristin playfully slapping him on the shoulder.
Tommy carefully pulled open the wrapping, finding a cardboard box inside. Tommy glanced up at Phil, who only smiled.
“Go on,” he encouraged. Tommy did and opened the package to find… papers.
A big ol’ stack of papers. Tommy was at first going to dismiss this as some weird prank until he saw the top line of the paper.
“Adoption Forms,” it read in bold lettering.
Tommy sat stunned, staring at the papers and re-reading the line over and over again, unaware of the smiles dropping from his foster family’s faces.
“...Is it that bad?” Kristin asked, hurt clearly evident in her tone. Tommy whipped around to look at her, panic on his face.
“No! No, that's not what I- I just… wasn’t expecting this, I guess. Um- it's a lot.” Tommy said, not able to process what was happening.
“Oh, Toms,” Phil immediately jumped in, coming around the table to put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, “you don’t have to say yes. It’s just an option. We are fully willing to foster you until you age out if that's what you want, and of course, you’re always welcome here after that. Hell, we already talked to your caseworker about putting you through college. This—being adopted—is only if you want it. We just wanted you to know that we love you, that we see you as family,” Phil said with a slight shake to his voice, his eyes seeming to water as he gave a smile and squeezed Tommy’s shoulder once.
“I-” Tommy was at a loss for words. He knew a lot of kids when they were younger dreamed of getting adopted, but Tommy never did. He had had a family. He had amazing parents who loved him and would have wanted to be there for every step of his life if it weren’t for the car accident. Tommy had a family, and they died. He never expected, or even wanted, a second one.
Or at least, he never did until the Watsons.
“...Are you okay with this?” Tommy asked, glancing between the twins, who seemed heartbroken that Tommy would even ask that (well, Wilbur did. Techno was harder to read, but his clenched fist said everything Tommy needed to know).
“Of course, we are, Tommy!” Wilbur exclaimed, almost jumping out of his chair like he wanted to grab Tommy and was barely restraining himself, “You’re our brother; you have been since the first time you called me a shithead because I, very validly, insulted the way you shampooed and conditioned your hair,”
He grabbed Tommy’s hand that rested on the table.
“What about you, Techno?”
He knew Techno wasn’t one for feelings, but Tommy needed the confirmation.
“Tommy, you’re family kid. I don’t say it a lot, or really ever, but I mean it, I really do-”
Techno’s ears started to turn slightly pink, “I do love you. You know it's hard for me to express that, but I thought I made it obvious.”
In retrospect, he did make it obvious. He was always there for Tommy, helping with his English assignments or driving him to school or Tubbo’s house. He might be a bit closed off, but Tommy was under no illusion that he didn’t. It was just hearing it out loud was so different. He knew they all loved him. They showed it every day and proved it in every action, but despite that…
“I think I need to think about it,” Tommy finally said, putting the papers down and back in the box.
“Of course, honey,” Kristin said quickly, a genuine smile on her face despite being rejected. The whole family didn’t seem too bothered by Tommy’s rejection, knowing it was a big step and he needed to think about it.
“I think it's time for us to clean up and get ready for the movies, boys!” Phil said, starting to usher everyone to get rid of the slightly tense atmosphere and take attention off of Tommy.
He really was the best at knowing what Tommy needed in the moment.
“Can I not sit in the middle seat since it’s my birthday?” Tommy asked Phil with a whine, playing into the role he loved in the family.
“Yeah, no, that excuse only gets you so far, kiddo,” Phil said with a laugh. Tommy groaned, but it was all fun (he actually liked sitting between the twins when they weren’t being dickheads, and today Wilbur would probably want to cuddle with him in the back. Tommy would obviously have to put up a fight, he had a reputation to uphold, of course, but in the end, he would “begrudgingly” give in to the clingy beanpole).
Part of Tommy always knew they would ask to adopt him, especially recently, despite his self-doubt about not being loved, but that didn’t mean he was ready to change their current dynamic. Maybe one day he would be, maybe sometime, when he felt a bit older, a bit more sure of himself, Tommy would sign those papers and make it official, but for now, he was happy being Tommy Innit, only with the possibility of being Tommy Innit-Watson.
Today, Tommy just wanted to spend his birthday with his family.
And a little boy inside Tommy, who once believed he would never find someone to love him again, cried tears of joy that day.