Two weeks into September it was Logan’s birthday. He was turning eleven, and he was so excited. Kaitlyn’s birthday was in January, and Daniel’s had been in April. Nathan’s was in February, and Cameron’s was in November, so this was the first birthday he would be celebrating with them.

Logan’s actual birthday fell on a Wednesday, but they’d planned a party for him on the following Saturday. He’d invited his entire class over since that was apparently what all the kids did.

Cameron hadn’t expected every single kid RSVP that they were coming, but the day before his birthday, Logan had excitedly brought home the last RSVP card. That meant Cameron had three days to put together a party for twenty-five classmates, plus at least that many extra kids since siblings and a handful of Daniel and Kaitlyn’s friends were also coming to the party.

That meant that he had to plan a party for over fifty kids ranging in age from five to twelve and also plan for about half as many parents and nannies to show up.

He was glad Nathan had a huge yard because by his calculations they were looking at a minimum of seventy-five people showing up at the house on Saturday between one and four in the afternoon.

Cameron had never had birthday parties when he was a child, and he’d never gone to any until his sisters had started having kids. Those parties had all been small family affairs, and it wasn’t until he became a nanny that he realized his family was different. Most people had family parties, but they also had parties for the kid’s friends, and the parties could be extravagant.

He’d been to parties with catered meals and cakes that could rival ones found at any wedding. He’d attended ones that were held in ballrooms and had ice sculptures and DJ’s, and gone were the days of clowns and magicians. Now parties had full dance troupes, bands, singers, and one had even had an acrobatic team while another had brought in a full cheerleading squad.

Thankfully Logan was more low-key and didn’t want anything fancy. He’d asked for a superhero theme and was happy with junk food and games.

With that many people showing up, Cameron had ordered enough food for everyone from a grocery store. He’d spent the next three nights making the decorations and setting up games and crafts as he planned the biggest party he’d ever been in charge of.

They passed Logan’s actual birthday pretty quietly. When the kids had come home from school, he and Nathan had taken them out to a movie and to dinner at a family restaurant. After they went home, Nathan had taken Logan for a drive and out for ice cream so he could have some alone time with him while Cameron entertained the other kids, and when they’d come home, Logan had gotten his gifts. 

Nathan had gone out and picked out Logan’s gift himself, and the superhero bike was exactly what Logan had wanted. Cameron had bought him a superhero costume he could keep in the playroom, and his brother and sister had made him small crafts and cards. He’d loved everything, and had been grateful and thankful.

By the time the kids were in bed, it was an hour past their bedtime, and both Nathan and Cameron were exhausted, but happy.

Nathan had confessed to him that he’d slacked when it came to their birthdays the last few years. He’d had their nannies plan parties for them but hadn’t really thought to do anything on the actual day, and he regretted that.

Before Jason had died, they’d done something as a family as well as having a party, and he’d given up the tradition when the first birthday had rolled around after Jason’s accident.

Logan had loved his day, and now Kaitlyn and Daniel would get their own special days, so it wasn’t too late for Nathan to fix things. Just because he’d made mistakes in the past didn’t mean he had to keep making them.

***

THE MORNING OF THE party, Cameron was running around trying to get everything ready while entertaining the kids, and he was doing it alone since Nathan was out picking up the food and the cakes. With so many people coming, he’d had to order three large cakes and each only had one word on them— Happy, Birthday, Logan, and each cake had a different superhero on it.

All three kids were excited, and he was helping Kaitlyn get dressed in her outfit when the first guests started arriving

Because Logan had invited so many kids, Cameron had asked him what he wanted to do about gifts. He’d told Logan he could either ask for no gifts or simple trinkets and homemade gifts.

Logan had decided he wanted to help out the children’s hospital. On the invitations they’d stated that if people were interested, Logan would be collecting toys and cash and donating all the “gifts” to the hospital, but there was no obligation to bring anything.

Cameron knew status meant a lot to people, and giving and getting gifts from classmates was not so much a status thing for the kids, but for the parents. He was a little worried at how the other parents would react, but he was so proud of Logan for thinking of helping others instead of asking for anything for himself.

Nathan had been very supportive of the idea and seemed to be rethinking charity and teaching his kids about saving money and helping others.

He’d told Cameron this was the biggest party they’d ever had for any of the kids, but it was also the most casual. His previous nannies had always planned smaller parties that were just as fancy as those of the other kids at school. He’d also told him how Logan seemed more excited for this party than any of the ones he’d had before.

As the guest trooped in the “gift” table quickly filled up, and the kids ran around as Cameron did his best to corral them.

Cameron had put Nathan on little kid duty, so Kaitlyn, her friends, and the youngest siblings were under his care while Cameron took care of the older kids and kept them busy and having fun.

He was just trying to figure out a way to get all seven of the kids he was supposed to be looking after interested in the same activity when he saw a group of moms come in with their kids.

This group of women were the single divorcees and had been flirting with him since Jason died. All had made multiple passes at him, and he’d turned down all of them more than once. It didn’t seem to matter that he was gay, they still flirted with him.

He ignored them and got the little kids to agree on a craft and set them up at a picnic table with cardstock, glitter, and paint pens, watching as they giggled and created.

He kept his focus on the kids but kept glancing up to see how Cameron was doing, and he was in awe of him. Cameron was keeping over forty kids occupied and supervised. It was true their parents and caregivers were also watching out for them, but Cameron was the one in the middle of the yard, making sure they were having fun and being safe. He was even managing to take pictures with his phone. Nathan had never seen anyone so comfortable in a crowd of children, and he’d never thought one person could do everything Cameron was doing with such ease.

They’d ordered plenty of food, but by the way it was steadily disappearing they wouldn’t have many leftovers, if any. By the time they were ready to blow out the candles, pretty much all of the food was gone.

When the candles were blown out and they were ready for dessert, they worked out a system to make sure everyone got to be involved. Cameron would cut the pieces and put them on a plate Nathan would hold out for him. He’d hand the plate to either Logan or Daniel, and the boys would pass out the cake while Kaitlyn went around offering forks and napkins to everyone.

As they worked, Nathan couldn’t help marveling at how well the family worked together, and how much of an influence Cameron had on them. They were like a little family unit again, and Cameron being there made them feel whole. Cameron might have helped him become a part of his family again, but he’d also become a part of it with him. 

“So the single mom brigade has you in their sights,” Cameron said quietly as he stood next to him near the table. They’d finished handing out the cake and were both enjoying a piece as they watched the kids get back to running off their excess energy.

“That obvious, is it?” he sighed as he looked at his plate.

“They’ve been staring at you since they came in. Not that I blame them.”

“No?” He glanced at Cameron, a smile tugging at his lips.

“No. I’m not shocked. They lust after pretty much all the dads. Even the married ones. Seems sexuality isn’t a thing for them either.”

“So it’s my anatomy that has them drooling?” He raised an eyebrow at Cameron teasingly.

“That.” He nodded. “And the fact that you’re really hot probably helps.”

“Does it now?”

“It’s no wonder you’re targeted.”

“Well, I’m just going to let them target me all they want.” He shook his head and took a bite of his cake.

“Probably a good plan. That whole not crapping where you eat thing kind of applies to this. Although I’d probably word it differently.”

“Don’t screw your kid’s friend’s moms?” he tried, grinning at him.

“Yup, that sounds good.” Cameron laughed and took a bite of his cake. “And it’s good advice.”

“What about not fucking your kid’s nanny?” Nathan asked wickedly as he leaned down to whisper the words in Cameron’s ear. His words and tone were intimate, but the move was almost casual. As he leaned back and looked down at his plate, he saw a blush creeping over Cameron’s cheeks.

“Also good advice, but not advice I would follow if I were you,” he said after he’d taken a moment to compose himself.

Nathan laughed and finished off his cake. He could see Kaitlyn and a few of her friends coming towards him armed with glitter pens. He was back on duty.

Cameron watched Nathan walk away and shook his head, hoping to shake the dirty thoughts from his mind. He had no idea how Nathan could have such an effect on him. Nathan didn’t even have to try, and he found himself getting lost in a full-blown fantasy just watching him walk away. Even after all this time sleeping together, Cameron could still look up at him and be completely taken with how handsome Nathan was. After all of their conversations, he was still amazed at how Nathan seemed to understand him, even when he didn’t always understand himself. Nathan was the whole package, and he sometimes had trouble believing he was choosing to be with him. That Nathan wanted him as much as Cameron wanted Nathan.

He hurriedly finished off his cake and went to try and rally the older kids into a couple of games to burn off the excess sugar they’d all consumed, and hopefully distract himself from thoughts of Nathan.

***

FOR ALL INTENTS AND purposes, the party was a raving success. Everyone had fun, ate a lot of food, and they were all exhausted by the time the last guest left.

They’d eaten so much junk at the party that Cameron had made them all a late and light supper, and then all three kids and Nathan had pitched in to help him clean up the backyard. Then they’d gone through the “gifts.”

Logan’s classmates had been very generous. A lot of them had brought brand new toys that were suitable for both boys and girls, and there was a wide range of ages. And a fair number had brought cards with either cash or checks in them.

Logan was really excited about all the donations he’d be able to give. Cameron had called the donations coordinator at the hospital and set up a time on Sunday afternoon for them to bring everything over so Logan and the other kids could see where the gifts were going and who they would be helping.

He was very thankful Nathan was coming with him to deliver the gifts. It was way too much for him to do alone, especially if he had all three kids with him.

When the yard and house were clean, he took the kids upstairs and got them ready for bed. As he’d been tucking Logan in, he’d given Cameron a huge hug and thanked him for the best birthday party he’d ever had. His sincerity and his openness had touched him, and Cameron had just hugged him back and told him that he was welcome.

When all three kids were down for the night, he found Nathan in the kitchen, and they’d taken a bottle of wine into the media room.

Nathan had put on a movie, and they’d watched part of it, cuddling as they sipped their wine, but after a few glasses, the movie was forgotten, and they instead tried to figure out new and interesting ways to have fun on the sectional sofa.