Night hummed softly as her and Jin made a cake and cupcakes, the two rocking out to some music as they did. Hartz was out picking up some last minute things at the store and the birthday girl was down for a nap, so it gave the mother and son some bonding time while they waited.

Serenity was turning one today, a huge milestone in the Slydale-Dread family since she was born very premature. They were told she would have problems growing up, but she beat the odds and recovered. A bunch of Night's family is coming out to the party and the woman made sure to tell them what to bring and what not to. Especially since the family just figured out the daughter was very allergic to nuts. Jin sneezed into his arm suddenly, the young mother laughing softly.
    "Bless you, baby." She said, putting the pans in the oven and starting a timer.
    "Thank you..." Jin smiled slightly, rubbing his nose. He looked at the time. "What time is everyone supposed to start showing up...?"
    "Well, abuela and tío Alex are supposed to be here in the next thirty minutes to help set up, then the others will start showing about one-thirty-ish."
    "Okay, okay..."

Jin rubbed his head slightly, looking at the door the moment he heard it open.
    "¡Noche, hola!" Alice called when she walked in, spying her daughter and grandson in the kitchen. "¡Ah, ahí tienes! ¿Como estais los dos?"
    "¡Mamá! Ay, lo estamos hacienda bien. ¿Alex detrás de ti?"
    "Right here." Alex waved, walking in behind their mother.
    "Perfect! Jin and I just put the cake and everything in the oven so they'll be ready soon. Ready to set up?"
    "Absolutely! I can't believe she's a year already, growing up so fast." Alice smiled, Night waving a hand at that thought.
    "God, don't remind me."

They all shared a laugh and went out to the backyard to set up for the party, the teen staying inside to keep an eye on Serenity. He twitched slightly and furrowed his eyebrows as he scrolled through his phone, looking up. Why did it feel like something bad was going to happen?

~~~

Serenity toddled around the backyard with a giggle, Jin trying his best to catch his slippery baby sister. She managed to snatch up Alex's lighter when he wasn't looking, the teen finally catching her and carefully taking the lighter.
    "Great catch, mijo!" Alex laughed, having finally realized his lighter was missing. "Sticky Fingers over here rummaging through pockets, I didn't feel her hand."
    "She's sneaky... It got worse when she started walking..." Jin smiled, a tiny hand smacking him in the face gently. "Alright alright, go play..."

The party was officially jumping once more people started showing up, a lot of Night's cousins and their kids, aunts and uncles, and Phi as well. Night was talking to a few of her cousins and Alice, Hartz was playing Washers with his brother and a couple more cousins, which let the children do their own thing. Just as long as they were being safe. Being the oldest though, Jin was kind of told to keep an eye on the little ones, including the birthday girl. Piece of cake, right?

Wrong.

Every single child has been picking at the dessert table, grabbing cookies and brownies even after they were told to wait since dinner was going to be served a little later.
    "I think I prefer daycare..." Jin groaned, grabbing some lemonade and taking a drink. He looked around for a minute and furrowed his eyebrows, looking at his uncle. "Uncle Alex, have you seen Serenity...?"
    "Last I saw her was under the picnic table, check there." The man told him, ruffling his hair and grabbing a beer from the cooler. Jin nodded and walked over to the picnic table, looking underneath and sighing. Not there, great. He had one job and he couldn't even do that. Jin sighed and ran a hand through his black hair, walking further around the backyard.
    "No, I didn't believe her. She was able to eat them before, so why did it all of a sudden change?" A tía gossiped, her and another talking off to the side. "I made chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, the kids have been eating them all day just fine. I even gave one to the birthday girl."
    "And she was fine?" The other tía asked, the first one nodding.
    "Perfectly, took a big bite and was fine."

The teen felt his heart sink, realization kicking in as he looked around.
    "Night! The baby!" Hartz' voice suddenly cut through the atmosphere, the man's normally upbeat personality broken as he rushed over to his wife. And in his arms? Serenity, covered in hives and hardly breathing.
    "Oh my god!" The mother cried, running into the house to grab her daughter's Epi-pen. She came back out like lightning, popping the cap and sticking her baby with the epinephrine. Serenity, when she was able to somewhat breathe properly again, starting crying, clinging to her daddy who held her close.
    "What the hell? I thought everyone knew she was allergic!" Alex growled, finding the contaminated cookies and throwing them away in anger.
    "I specifically said any form of nut wasn't allowed in this house because this would be the result!" Night yelled, motioning to her crying daughter. "Everyone, Hartz and I will be back, she needs to be seen to make sure she's alright. But the moment I find out who disrespected my wishes, we're going rounds."

The mother and father left to take Serenity to the hospital, the party trying to continue like normal. Yeah, that wasn't happening.
    "Do you have any idea how close you were to killing my little sister...?!" Jin snapped, pointing an accusing finger at his tía. She scoffed, waving him off.
    "I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't do shit." She told him, crossing her arms.
    "I literally heard you bragging about how you didn't believe she was allergic to nuts...! You purposely made those cookies because you're too entitled to listen to one simple rule...!"
    "I am not entitled, you little brat!"
    "Tell the truth, Crystal, were those your cookies?" Alice suddenly butt in, standing next to Jin with her hands on her hips.
    "No, they weren't mine." Crystal growled, glaring at the teenager. The other tia from earlier stepped up, outing her.
    "But they were. We were just talking about it a minute ago, and you told me how you handed one to her."

Jin felt like he was seeing red, trying to attack his aunt for what she did. He wanted to but Alex had grabbed him, holding him away from her.
    "You'll pay for doing that...! You almost killed my sister...!" He yelled, angry tears in his eyes as he was carried into the house.
    "Relax, kid, she'll get what's coming to her." Alex told him, the man setting him on the couch carefully. Jin was angry, arms crossed over his chest as tears coated his cheeks. "Jin, she's going to be just fine."
    "She could've died... That's my baby sister she almost killed..." He told him, finally brushing his tears away. "I can't forgive that... I won't..."

Alex blinked then smiled softly, ruffling his hair.
    "Like mother, like son." He told him, walking toward the back door. "Level your head for a minute then come back out. Abuela and I will make sure she's not here when your mom comes back."
    "Thanks uncle Alex..."

~~~

Serenity was perfectly fine after a quick visit to the hospital.

She was back to her happy, giggly self and couldn't wait to go back to the party, Night taking in a deep breath and thanking her lucky stars. The mother did receive texts from her mother explaining what happened after they left and who was responsible, laughing when she read Jin put her in her place and almost beat the shit out of her. He's come so far from the shy little boy she found him as, and she couldn't be prouder.

The party was finally able to continue as normal as everyone ate dinner, talking and laughing like nothing ever happened. Everything felt right as they sang Serenity 'happy birthday', blowing the candle out and clapping her hands happily as everyone cheered. Even if there was a major bump in the day, it still was a good day.

Hopefully Serenity won't remember it in the future~

NightBear15 signing off...

Before anyone is like, "Why did you write a one shot for Serenity and not Jin?", I was trying to. I've been busy with work since I also just got a second job.

I had started it but kept getting busy so there wasn't a point to publish it since it was too late. I love my children equally so don't think I prefer one over the other.