Loving Lacey

***All sexual activity presented involves only characters over the age of 18***

Late March

Year 5 of Us

Shared Birthdays

I smiled as I heard the voices from beyond the door. I shook my head, then I looked at the clock on my desk. Naptime must be over, somewhat early, and they're planning something.

There was a gentle tap on the door, then it opened. When I looked, I saw Sam peeking in at me. "Dada? Okay to come in?"

"Of course it is!" I turned to her, then watched as she slowly entered, her arm extended beyond the door jamb.

"Come on, Dunc!" She came into the sunroom, leading her brother in behind. He was pulling something, which I realized was one of their wagons. They both came in, smiles on their faces, and Lacey followed them in. The others were standing out in the hall, looking into the room. I realized that Cathy and Mir seemed uncertain, while Willi and Châu seemed interested.

I looked past Sam, seeing a box of some sort in the wagon. I looked up at Lacey, who smiled at me before nodding towards the twins.

"What's this?" I looked at Sam.

Her smile seemed to get bigger as she performed a grand "ta-da" gesture towards the box. "Is gift! For Dada birfday!"

"Really?"

She and Duncan nodded, then he pulled the wagon closer. "Too big for us to carry, Dada," he said.

"I can see that!" He was right -- it was about three feet long and about two feet in each of the other directions. The paper was bright green with a red bow and ribbons.

"Dada open?" Sam was excited and concerned. "Is pretty!"

"It is very pretty, Sam," I looked at my daughter, her blue eyes shining. "Did you help Mama wrap it?"

"No, Dada," she shook her head. "But we help pick colors!"

"Well, let me read the card first, okay?" I could see that the twins were very excited, so I changed track. "I'll open the gift and then read the card!"

I popped the bow off first, sticking it to Sam's hair, then pulled the ribbons free, draping them over Duncan's shoulders. They were giggling as I ripped the paper free. The box was plain, no indication of what might be in it.

Sam was almost giddy when I popped the tape, opening the box. I pulled some colored tissue paper out, then looked inside.

I froze for a moment, then I reached in and pulled out a violin case. I couldn't speak for a moment, then I looked the twins to Lacey.

"What's this?" I croaked.

"Well, I was talking with Vivian, and she asked if you had ever replaced the fiddle you sold after Scarlett passed."

"When was this?"

"Right after New Year's. I didn't know that you had owned a fiddle. I called Adam and he mentioned that he barely remembered, but that you stopped playing it sometime before you met Gwen."

"Yeah." I looked at the case for a moment.

"What happened, Wyatt?" Lacey had moved closer, resting a hand on each twins' shoulder.

"I sold my old fiddle. I needed money. For Adam. To battle her parents for him. He never went hungry, but there were times when I didn't eat much."

"Oh, Wyatt!" Lacey sobbed softly, then moved to kneel in front of me as someone pulled the wagon away. "I didn't mean to make you cry!"

"I'm not crying, Beloved." I sniffed a bit. "Well, a little, maybe." I smiled at her, then I gently set the violin case on my desk. When I turned back to her, she and the twins flowed into my arms. They simply hugged me, but Lacey whispered to me.

"I love you, Wyatt. I want you to enjoy this gift. If you don't want it, if the memories are too much, we can return it."

"No, my Princess. It's a wonderful gift, and I want to play for you, like I did for Scarlett. Play for all of you." I kissed her softly, then kissed each twin on the cheek. I swallowed, then released my hold. Straightening, I looked at everybody. "It might be a few weeks before I'm back to my old form, though." Cathy, Mir, and the rest were smiling. "Did you all help with this?"

Châu nodded, then pointed at Cathy. "She's the one who did the most searching for it."

"Thank you, Kitty-cat!"

Cathy blushed slightly. "You're very welcome, Wyatt. The guy at the shop tuned it after we explained what was going on."

I sat there for a moment, then I just smiled.

"Oh, thank you," whispered Lacey. I looked at her, then she gave me her 'sun coming up over the mountain' smile. "I was afraid that this would hit you badly."

I sagged then, knowing immediately what she meant. I cupped her face with my hand, then smiled at her. She continued her smile, then took my hand in both of hers.

"Mama? Dada?" Duncan leaned between us. "Go down to play?" He smiled, trying to convince us.

Lacey looked at him, then grabbed him in a big hug. "Of course!" she laughed, then she stood, holding his hand. "Take my hand, my cowboy?"

"Of course, my love!" I stood, then saw Châu grab the wagon.

She laughed as she saw my look. "I can handle this!" before she slung it under her left arm, then headed for the door. "Let's go!"

I looked at my new fiddle, then smiled at Lacey. As I let her lead me towards the stairs, I lifted Sam in my free arm.

"Dada like gift?" Sam asked, looking at me with a serious look on her face.

"Yes, sweetheart, I really like my gift!" As we headed down the stairs, accompanied by all five dogs, I looked at her and said so that everyone could hear me, "It's going to take a while, I expect, before I get back into it."

Mir chuckled as she stepped clear of the stairs at the bottom. "Do you have an idea of how long, Wyatt?"

I shrugged after I set Sam on the floor so that she could follow Duncan into the great room. "No idea, really. Part of me is eager to test myself, to see where I actually stand with that." I looked into Mir's grey eyes. "Part of me is terrified to test myself, afraid that I'll never be able to play as well as I used to."

Mir took me in her arms, then she shifted slightly as Lacey joined us. Mir said, "I think you may be on the verge of defeating yourself, Wyatt."

Lacey nodded. "You do this to yourself, love." She leaned her head against my chest. "Please don't do it this time." She sighed. "I love you."

"I love you, too, my Princess. I love you, Mir." I kissed each of them, then we just stood there for a few moments as they did their best to reassure me.

I felt someone tug on my pants, then heard Sam say, "Come play ranch, Dada?"

"Of course, sweetheart!" I looked at Lacey and Mir. "I think that my presence is being requested."

Lacey giggled and Mir laughed. "I guess we should let you go for now."

As I headed to the play area, I saw that Cathy was sitting with Jean, who had one of her own toys. After I had sat, I turned to look at the others. "I need to get supper started shortly. I've got some trout that's due to be grilled."

"Ah...," Cathy started.

"Ah?"

"Actually, you get a cooking break tonight. You and Lacey are going out to dinner." Cathy grinned before Willi laughed.

"The whole family is going to Mama Jo's! We've got a big table reserved."

"That sounds great!"

Châu said, "It'll be a nice clothes dinner, too, cowboy."

"Nice clothes?"

Cathy, Mir, Willi, and Châu nodded, smiles on their faces. I looked at Lacey, who was trying to hide a smile and failing.

"I guess I shouldn't fight this, should I?"

"No, my dearest, you should succumb to the inevitable," Lacey laughed. "Besides, you look good in nice clothes."

I was surprised. "I've never thought that I looked good. I mean, I don't scare small children or animals, but still..."

Lacey walked over and stood above me, pointing a finger. "Don't you start that, mister man. Not today, especially, or ever!"

"Yes, Beloved." I looked at her, then smiled.

She shook her head, then laughed. "You're so silly!" she said before she crouched beside me to give me a hug and a quick kiss. She looked at the clock on the mantle. "I think that it's time for the non-mommies to get changed."

With that, Willi and Châu got up, hurried to the stairs, then disappeared up them.

I looked after them, then at Lacey. "Why them first?" I handed Duncan a couple of horses.

"Because they're going to feed the dogs, then make sure that everything is closed up while the rest of us get ready."

"Oh." I just grinned, shrugged, then went back to helping Duncan putting the toys away. It was fascinating to watch my little boy's expressions as he worked to arrange things in the bin just so -- the horses were next to the cows, the cowboys were beside them, the fences and buildings were the farthest away.

Right after we had finished putting the toys into the bin and pushed the bin into its place, Lacey said softly, "Okay boys and girls, Willi and Châu are downstairs. Let's go upstairs and get ready!"

As we stood up, I scooped up Duncan as Lacey did the same with Sam. Cathy lifted Jean, then I stepped over to where the little twins were sitting with Mir. "Duncan, who should we carry?"

"Haley!"

"Okay. Why?"

"She older twin. Like me!" He was grinning, so I nodded.

"Sounds good to me!"

Mir was smiling as she lifted Haley up to me. "Here she is!"

I snuggled Haley in my left arm. She laughed when she saw Duncan and they touched hands before they both giggled. As we headed for the stairs, Lacey stopped before anyone started up them.

"Puppies!" She gently clapped her hands. When they were all looking at her, she pointed to the kitchen where Châu was standing. "Go eat supper!"

All of them were looking at her, and LB led the way. They all followed in order -- Sherlock, Princess, Charlie, and at the rear of the line, Teddy. He looked back at Olivia, then Mir said, "It's okay, Teddy. Go get your supper!" The little dog bounced once, then went into the kitchen.

Going up the stairs, I left the lower gate open. At the top, Lacey looked back down. "Oh, good! I was going to mention making it so that the dogs could come up when they were finished."

I smiled up at her. "I learn from the best, my Princess!"

We got all five littles dressed, then we adults got dressed as we kept the kids on the bed. I was pleased that Duncan and Sam did their best to keep the little ones amused.

As we headed back down the stairs, accompanied by the dogs, I realized that all five ladies have something new on their wrists. I helped Cathy into the driver's seat of the van, and I realized what I had seen.

Taking my seat next to Lacey, I spoke up. "Are y'all are wearing your new charm bracelets?"

"We are!" agreed Lacey, who snuggled under my left arm. All five of the ladies showed me their wrists, where the gold bracelets gleamed.

"Mama has pretty!" Sam exclaimed.

"Yes, it's very pretty," Lacey said, showing Sam her necklace.

I was chatting with Duncan about what he wanted to eat when I heard Sam say, "Dunc! Look! One is me and one is you!"

Lacey stretched her arm past me so that Duncan could see the charms on the bracelet. He took each of the three in turn. A boy in a cowboy hat, a girl in a skirt with a dog, and a heart with the birthdate of the twins on it.

Duncan looked around me at Lacey, a big smile on his face. "I have hat like Dada!"

"Yes, you do, my sweet boy!"

He giggled, then looked at the heart. "What this?" he pointed at the date.

"That's when you and your sister were born, bud." I smiled down at him. "That was a very important date for all of us!"

"You there, Dada?" Sam leaned past Lacey.

"He certainly was, Sam. He was very determined to be there, too," Lacey caressed my leg, smiling at me.

"What word? Deter...?"

"Determined. It means he really wanted to be there. Your Daddy is a very stubborn man at times." Lacey paused, then continued. "Stubborn means the same kind of thing -- he will do something that he wants to do, if it's at all possible."

"Oh." Sam was quiet, then she said, "Duncan can be stubborn?"

I chuckled, "Yes, he can, and so can you, sweetheart!"

"Me?" Sam started to giggle, which set off Duncan, who had been looking out the window. That, in turn, led to Jean laughing, and I think that Haley and Olivia were laughing, too.

Lacey smiled at me, then gave me a quick kiss as we pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Willi, who had been up front with Cathy, came back to help Duncan out of the van. In short order, everybody was in the parking lot, and then we headed inside.

The Hostess, Louise, greeted us, then led us back to a table for twelve, which worked since Haley and Olivia were still in their bouncy seats. We took our seats before Louise asked, "Is this a special occasion?"

"Yes," answered Cathy, grinning at me. "These two," she pointed at me, then at Lacey, "are having birthdays!"

Louise looked confused. "You're not twins, are you?"

That got everyone to laugh, until Lacey answered, with a big smile. "No, we're born on the same day, but thirty-one years apart!"

"Oh," was the only response Louise could make. She looked at Lacey with a smile. "Cakes?"

Lacey patted my thigh. "Yes! Two of the small chocolate chip cakes! Sound good, love?"

I nodded. "They do sound good."

"Cake?" Duncan looked up from the kids' menu he was coloring on with Châu's help.

"Of course, my little love!" Lacey assured him. "Eight cakes if you have them, please!"

"Seven," corrected Châu. "I don't want one, although I might nibble a bite or two from Duncan, if he'll agree." Duncan nodded readily, concentrating on his colors.

"Okay, seven cakes," Lacey said, looking at Louise, who smiled back.

Louise nodded. "I'll send your waiter over to take your food orders."

"Thank you," Lacey said.

After Louise had gotten out of earshot, I leaned over to Lacey. "You've done it again."

"What?"

I snickered. "She'll do anything you want, since you gave her that smile of yours."

My Beloved had the grace to blush, then she said, "I wasn't trying to do anything, love."

"I know -- you can't help it." I kissed the side of her head, then caressed her thigh, which got me a smile.

When the waiter came by, we ordered our meals, then sat talking for a bit. When dinner was served, it became a lively affair as it always did. It included Jean chewing on a French Fry, while Haley and Olivia got to taste mashed potatoes, which they enjoyed.

The cakes, when they were delivered to the table, caught many people's attention, especially the two in the center of the tray. Those had two lit candles in each, while all six of the servers followed Louise to our table.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," announced Louise, "this is a shared birthday for Lacey and Wyatt! So, please, if you will, join us as we sing the Birthday Song for them!"

The singing was enthusiastic and I was impressed by how well the employees' voices went together. Duncan and Sam enjoyed it, although Jean wasn't sure and neither Haley nor Olivia liked it. It took Mir and Willi some effort to keep those two calm, but the singing ended with applause and some cheers.

Haley was looking ready to start crying, so I hopped up and took her from Willi. My daughter put her arms on my neck as she buried her face into my shoulder. I patted her back gently, speaking softly to her, "Easy, baby girl, easy." It took a few minutes, but she settled down.

When Mir looked up at me, I nodded before heading back to my seat, holding on to Haley. I turned her around so that she could look at everybody, then Lacey said with a snicker, "We need to blow these candles out before our cakes are covered in wax, cowboy!"

I grinned at her, then we blew the candles out. I offered Haley a taste of my cake. She liked the cake but didn't really care for the tiny chocolate chips. Duncan shared some of his cake with Châu -- they both were laughing and giggling so much that it was surprising that any cake was actually eaten.

At some point, Cathy slipped out of her chair and Willi sat in it to pay attention to Jean. I guessed Cathy had gone to the bathroom, so I simply continued to enjoy myself.

Later, the waiter came by with the check, but Cathy took it. She looked at it, then nodded.

"Let me have that, Cathy," I said simply.

She shook her head. "Nope. This is part of our present for you two!"

"Don't argue, love," Lacey said lightly. "Just accept this and enjoy it."

"As long as you don't tell me to lay there and think of England."

Lacey giggled as Châu turned to look at me. "What?"

I waved her off, grinning. "Don't worry about it. I'm just showing my age."

"Oh." She turned back to her conversation with Duncan as I leaned back in my chair, then a particular odor struck me.

"Mir?"

The redhead turned to me. "Yes?"

"Diaper bag handy?"

"Of course! Do you want me to take her?"

"Naw. I can handle her if you give me the bag after I get up." Once I was standing, Mir brought the diaper bag to me.

"Oh, Haley!" Duncan said. "You make a stinky!"

"Yes, she did, little mister," Lacey said humorously. "But you don't need to tell everybody!"

"I sorry, Mama! I sorry, Mama Mir!"

Lacey leaned across my chair as Mir wrapped her arms around. "It's okay, Duncan! It really is, but you get excited sometimes, and you get loud when you're excited." Lacey kissed his forehead before Mir kissed the top of his head. "Are you done with your cake?"

I walked away, holding a very sleepy little redhead while the diaper bag hung from my left shoulder. I was glad that the restroom had a changing table, so the chore was completed very quickly.

As I headed back to the table, I saw that everyone was standing with their coats on. Châu took Haley from me when Lacey handed my jacket to me. "I gather we're ready?"

Heads nodded, then Sam patted my leg. "You want me to carry you, Sam?"

"No, Dada. Hold hand, please?"

"Of course!" It was nice, since Lacey took my free hand while Duncan was holding her other hand.

We got out to the van, finding that everyone were already in the van and waiting for us. Once we were in, Cathy started the drive home. The ride home was quiet, and it wasn't long until Duncan and Sam were nodding off.

"All three of them back here are asleep," said Willi softly.

"These two are close," added Lacey. "It's been a busy afternoon for them." She smiled at me as she held my hand. "I think that we've started a new tradition today."

"Oh?" I looked at her, so she smiled.

"Yes. They're old enough to deliver a present for a birthday." She giggled. "With a little help."

"Hey!" Châu said with a light giggle. "I resemble that remark."

I chuckled. "You're one of the three shortest adults in our little group, so yeah, you *do* resemble that remark!"

Châu giggled, then I heard her say, "I can still take all of you. Master."

There was silence, but Lacey did look over her shoulder, pointing a finger at Châu.

At the house, we carefully removed all five sleeping kids from the van, then we let the dogs sniff them after we got inside.

"Baths, or just into pajamas?" I asked as we went towards the stairs.

Lacey, Cathy, and Mir paused, then looked at each other. "Pajamas," Cathy said for all three of them, with the other two nodding their agreement.

"Okay, PJ's and then bedtime," I said, shifting Duncan on my shoulder. He murmured something but snuggled back into my shoulder.

"I'll check everything, then I'll be up," Willi said.

"Oh!" Lacey said, when she was halfway up the stairs.

"What?"

"I forgot about the goats!"

"We'll go back down after we've got everyone in bed, my Princess," I assured her, patting her bottom to get her moving again.

Luckily, all five of the kids were able to slip back to sleep after they got their pajamas on. Outside our bedroom door, all of us gathered for a few moments.

"Okay, for your birthdays, we're giving a night just for you two," Cathy said, smiling. "We'll take care of the babies, and I'll provide milk assistance if needed for Haley and Olivia. Give us all kisses, go take care of the goats, then make love as much as you want."