Fae sat in her room, tapping her ballpoint pen against her paperwork, finishing up a report. She wasn't lying to Ema when she said she wanted to finish them. After their first meeting with the conceited idol Fuuto, Fae decided Ema needed to cool off, and she too needed to complete her work by being alone.

Fae sighs as she scratches her head and leans back in her chair. Papers were spread over her desk, various documents needing to be signed and sheets filled in. This was going to take a while, yet she had no will to do anything. Her muscles begged to move, her leg twitching ever so often to remind her of that fact.

She glances over at her alarm clock that laid on the bedside table. She sighs in exasperation at the time and gets up out from her chair, giving in to that innocent urge. She reaches up, arching her back, curling her toes and fingers with a moan. Why did that always feel so good?

She had been sat for two hours or so, so it was no surprise when her bones clicked in place. She hums softly at the feeling before running her fingers through her hair and leaving the bedroom. She approaches the kitchen, hoping some tea would make her feel better.

"Welcome back, Ukyou." Fae greets, giving a smile to the man as she laces her fingers together behind her back, watching him over the counter. Ukyou stands in a daze for a moment, shopping bags on the side in front of him, with his tie, loosely hung around his neck. He had just gotten back from his weekly shop. "Are you alright?" Fae asks, approaching the male with a worried expression, letting her fingers unclasp, getting ready to help the tired looking man.

"Oh, no, pardon me." Ukyou excuses. "It has been a while since anyone has said 'Welcome back' to me. It was nice to hear." He pushes up his glasses with a smile.

"Well then, every time you get back, I'll make sure to say it." She smiles with a giggle. He starts unloading one of the bags, wanting to put away the frozen food before it thawed.

"That reminds me, have you met Fuuto?" He asks, opening the freezer.

"Yes, he seems to be very," Fae moves her hand flippantly, "proud of himself." She recalls her encounter with the snooty pop star, scrunching up her face.

"I see." Ukyou hums in concern. "This is rude to ask, but tomorrow I have a case I need to work, would you mind making dinner?" He question.

"I don't mind at all." Fae smiles, happy to help. She then squints slightly, wanting to say something, but worried. "Ukyou?"

"Yes?" Ukyou answers unsurely, sensing her hesitation. He closes the freezer door, approaching her.

"You do know tomorrow is the 28th, don't you?" She raises a brow.

"Yes, I do." Ukyou picks up more food and goes to the fridge, not understanding where this was going.

"Of May."

"I know the date." Ukyou looks to her over his shoulder, still lost.

"On the calendar, May the 28th is marked as Kaname's birthday." Fae points to it hesitantly, lost. Surely Ukyou knew his own brothers birthdays? The blond man froze, eyes staring blankly at the calendar before adjusting his glasses.

"That may be true, but for most of us it is normal to work." He explains.

"Really?" She questions, scrunching up her nose.

"Kaname is at work too. Even if we wanted to throw him a party, he would not be here." He explains.

"Oh..." her gaze fell. "Well, you seem exhausted. Do you want me to make you tea?" She questions, approaching the kettle.

"No thank you. I shall start dinner now, though." He informs. Fae smiles gently, watching Ukyou with concern.

"Don't stress yourself, Ukyou." She tells him, removing a cup from the cupboard.

"I appreciate your concern, but I will do just fine." He nods appreciatively. Fae nods silently and begins to start her tea.

||| Time Skip |||

"Our first activity as a family, we can decorate cards!" Fae tells Ema, placing down the card. "Wataru is coming down from his room. We have till six when Ukyou gets here, at half four I'll begin dinner, and no one should come downstairs." She clasps her hands together, sitting down.

"You planned this out so thoroughly." Ema flicks a pen, eyeing everything. Stationary to paper to glitter to stickers.

"Yep." Fae looks at everything, straightening out the pens. "Can you believe that they don't think birthdays are a big deal? I mean, they feel less insignificant when older, but it's still nice to see a surprise." Fae reasons.

"Like last year?"

"Like last year." Fae nods sharply. Thudding footsteps ran across the balcony, a fluffy head of hair poking out from the railing. "Hi, Wataru!" Fae greets.

"Fae!" He giggles, running down the stairs. "Ema!" He manages to brighten up even more, eyes shining as he stares at both girls. "It's Kaname's birthday today!"

"I know that." She taps his nose with a giggle. "That's why," she motions to the table, "we're all making him birthday cards!" She does jazz hands. Ema laughs softly as she sits down. "And we need help from a certain someone."

"Who?" Wataru asks excitedly.

"You." Fae sits down as Wataru joins her. "Who better than someone who's known him since they were a baby."

"I'm older now though." Wataru defends, blowing up his cheeks.

"I can see that." Fae smiles, laughing. "What colour card?" She hums.

"Kana likes purple, and gold too." Wataru said, grabbing at bits of card. "Oh, gel pen." Ema and Fae share a look, smiling brightly.

"We can each do our own card." Ema takes a piece of pale blue card, folding it.

"I'm gonna use yellow and pink." Wataru begins, attempting to fold the card.

"Well, I'll use royal purple and shiny gold." Fae grins, getting the scissors. They had idle chatter, decorating cards and writing inside.

"I love your bunny, Wataru." Ema smiles, looking at the animated rabbit on the left side of the card. "It's very cute."

"Very cute." Fae nods in approval. Wataru looks between his card, then the girls.

"Yours looks better than mine." He pouts, scowling at his work.

"Yours is really nice, Wataru." Fae comforts. "I'm sure Kaname will love it."

"Really?" Wataru asks.

"Really." She nods firmly. "Do you want me to write in it for you, or can you do that?"

"I'm a man, I can do it." He puffs out his chest proudly. After a while, Wataru wondered off, leaving Fae and Ema to tidy up.

"I think bonding went well." Fae shuffled paper together.

"Yeah." Ema nods, putting away glitter. "It's nice to do things like this, but..."

"It'd be better if they were all here." Fae finished. "I can't believe they don't make a fuss of these things. Life is short, they need to celebrate while they still can." She sighs, putting things away in the correct boxes.

"They don't value life as much as you do. Perhaps your job influences your views."

"Yeah." Fae agrees solemnly. "Do you want to ask the boys to sign this?" She holds up her own card, royal purple on the background and calligraphy letters on the front in shiny gold. Ema looked horrified for a second, eyes bugging out before shaking her head quickly. "Do you want me to do it?"

"Yes, please." Ema sighs.

"Dinner then."

||| Time Skip |||

The table was particularly empty this evening, most brothers away. Louis was at the hairdresser's, Iori had run away to his room to study, and Kaname was, of course, away at work. So only nine people sat around the table, enjoying the dinner Fae had made. The elder girl contemplated her thoughts; even with so many people around, it felt empty without their normal eleven boys. Did everyone really agree that Kaname's twenty-seventh wasn't that important? It was near the end of dinner when the first person rose to leave before Fae spoke up.

"Subaru." She said quickly, as he seemed to rise so fast that she would have missed him otherwise. He looked to her, freezing with one and placed on the back of his chair. "Would you stay till the end of dinner?" She questions, before shifting her gaze to the other brothers that were now watching her too. "I want you all to do something for me."

"What could that be, little sister?" Tsubaki asks, raising a brow.

"Is there a problem, Fae?" Masaomi asks her in concern.

"It's nothing serious, no need to worry." She laughs lightly. "I just wanted you all to sign something?"

"Is this a legal matter?" Ukyou furrows his brow, wondering if his new family member was going to be trouble.

"No, no." Fae quickly denies, raising her hands slightly. "I want you to all sign Kaname's birthday card." It seemed as though the air had shattered at that, brothers looking to each other for confirmation.

"Its Kana-bro's birthday?" Yusuke asks, bewildered.

"I thought that was on the 28th?" Tsubaki looks up in thought.

"It is the 28th." Azusa sighs, rubbing his head.

"That's a wonderful idea, Fae." Masaomi places his hands together, smiling brightly.

"It wasn't just me. Ema and Wataru helped this morning." Fae looks to the youngest two.

"Yeah!" Wataru grins. "I'm the closest to Fae now." He sends a proud look to Fae, beaming. She laughs, then turns her gaze to the other brothers.

"So, yeah. I'd appreciate it if you all signed this card for Kaname." She smiles, holding it up. There were mutters of agreement around the room.

"Bring it here, please." Ukyou ushers her over with his hand and pushes up his glasses. Fae walks over with a smile and places it down on the table. Pulling out a pen from inside his blazer, he signs his name before passing it on to Masaomi. The brunette signs his name before giving Fae a brief smile and handing it over. When it finally gets to Azusa, he comments about it.

"This is a nice card." He said, signing it. "Where did you get it?" He stands, passing it to you over the table. She smiles shyly, saying a small thanks before answering.

"Actually," Fae chuckles. "I made it." His eyes widen slightly, and he doesn't sit back down.

"It's handmade." He blinks languidly, eyes fluttering down to the card in her hands.

"Well, yeah." Fae shuffled onto her other foot. "It's more special to make a card instead of buying it." She explains, her face heating up. The idea sounded better in her head; but now, with them all giving her incredulous looks, she felt embarrassed. She was lucky that they were all siblings. Otherwise, they would have thought something else was up. Tsubaki clears his throat, raising up from his chair and grinning.

"On a totally different note, who wants to pop down the shops real quick with me?" He looks to his brother. Fae laughs through her nose, trying to suppress a smile.

"I'll join you," Azusa informs him.

"Me too." Yusuke said reluctantly, rubbing his face.

"That is a kind offer, but I should put Wataru to bed." Masaomi smiles, then looks to the boy.

"I want to go too!" Wataru whines.

"Maybe next time, buddy." Tsubaki ruffles the boy's hair, agitating him further.

||| Time Skip |||

Kaname stood in the elevator, feet tired from the day and eyes stinging. He had gotten chocolates from the old lady who visited frequently, and his co-workers gave him an extended lunch break. A birthday first was a birthday gift, and that he should be thankful. He sighs heavily, rubbing his face before stepping out. A long, exhausting day was typical, but he had hoped that he got to spend his 27th birthday with his family. He would have even spent it doing bills with Ukyo, or even better with one of his adorable sisters. He smiles at the thought. Turning to face his room, he stops, halting his movement as his eyes widen. Before his room was a cart of items. More specifically, birthday gifts.

He approaches it to see strings of curled ribbon wrapped around the corner of each pole, multicoloured helium balloons hanging off it. The bottom had fruit baskets and alcohol, even truffles. He looks at the top half, four envelopes with cursive writing in each, dedicated to Kaname. He opens the first one and reads it over, smiling to himself.

He chuckles, reading each signature. Looking back at the front, he takes in the design. Dark purple with random chunks of gold, looking like abstracts art. He places it down on the cart, standing it up before reaching into his pocket to remove his keys. He pulls the cart into his room to take a closer look at his presents with a smile.

It was true that with age birthdays weren't as exciting, but at this particular age when you thought all surprises were predictable, it brought a childlike glee back to Kaname.