Stefan was running around the house making sure everything was set up for the birthday parties; they had so many kids born in the month of May that the house looked like a circus when it came to decorations. The December and September birthdays weren’t so bad. They still had the parties at the Youngblood house but there were fewer birthday kids to deal with. Stefan took a final look around and walked to the back bedrooms.

All the girls were huddled up sound asleep on the king bed in Charlie’s old room. They had been up all night watching horror movies thinking that he and Jordan didn’t know. The screaming had clued them in and Stefan had fucked the living shit out of Jordan to restrain him from going into the room and to check on them. It had been a good night.

He glanced into Damon’s old room and found the boys sound asleep as well. Nico and Tanner were wrapped in each other’s arms and Colin had Nikolai resting against him. Evan and Ryan were spooned into each other, as well as Hunter and Jensen. Joshua and Landon were sleeping side by side and Stefan lay on the end of the bed next to Jordan, sprawled out in his normal fashion.

Stefan chuckled and tickled his namesake’s nose.

“Happy birthday!”

Stefan wrinkled his nose and opened one eye. “Hi, Grandpa.”

“You want to come help me make breakfast?”

Stefan rolled off the bed. “Don’t I always?”

Stefan grabbed him and hugged him tight. “I can’t believe you’re a teenager.”

“Don’t say that word around Dad.”

Stefan smiled at his grandson. It was as though he were looking at Heath at that age all over again. They went to work making sausage and eggs, and Stefan pulled out the liquid eggs for allergic Uncle Reece. The biscuits were in the oven and the coffee was brewing before any of the dads showed up. Tyler and Damon were first to arrive followed by Heath and Caleb. Heath looked at his son and smiled. He’d never forget the day he came home from his and Caleb’s Malta honeymoon to find an exact replica of himself staying with his fathers. Apparently, his one attempt at sex with a girl had resulted in his son. He’d known nothing about little Stefan until Child Protective Services tracked Heath down through his parents after Stefan’s unfit adoptive parents gave him up. He hugged Stefan hard and kissed his forehead.

“I love you so much.”

Stefan smiled at his dad. “I love you too.”

Lorenzo and Reece arrived with Dante and Kyle within the half hour, and an hour after that everyone else meandered in. They gathered around the kitchen table and breakfast bar laughing and messing with each other and the kids went out to the pond not long afterwards. Brett and Roman were playing lifeguard, watching the kids play in the pond. All the girls were on inflatable lounge chairs soaking in the sun. Jordan got under Viktoriya’s and pushed her over, laughing.

“I’m all wet now!” Viktoriya sputtered.

“That’s why you wear a bathing suit,” Jordan pointed out. “Aw, come on.”

Viktoriya demanded, “Hug me.”

Jordan smiled his lopsided grin and hugged her close, kissing her cheek. “Now you’ll feel cooler because of the water. You should be thanking me.”

The rest of the guys followed suit, dumping the girls in the pond. Lily stood in front Damon Jr. with her hands on her hips.

“Oh, come on!” Damon laughed.

The girls got their revenge dunking the guys and then it was an all-out water fight. Colin was looking for Nikolai and found him hiding under the dock.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I don’t feel like getting splashed.”

“I’ll protect you.”

“You always have,” Nikolai admitted.

“And I always will.” Colin took Nikolai in his arms and sighed; he loved holding him, and he knew he had feelings for him even though he was younger.

Nico was searching for Tanner and finally found him on the dock tanning himself; his mind took him back to the time before his uncles’ wedding, remembering how they’d almost lost Tanner. He pulled himself up on the dock and flopped next to him.

“You okay?” Nico asked.

Tanner took his hand and threaded their fingers together. “I am now.”

The party was in full swing. Stefan and Jordan loved watching the kids run around; there were a lot of kids from their classes at the party as well. Nico was watching Tanner smiling and laughing with his friends. He knew Tanner was younger and today proved they were so different — Tanner was still in middle school, and deserved to have fun with kids his own age. Nico felt as if he was monopolizing all Tanner’s time.

“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked his son.

“I think I want to go to boarding school.”

“Why would you want that?” Caleb asked, surprised.

“Just for a year, to see how I like it.”

“I don’t know, Nico…” Caleb carded a hand through his hair.

Arielle was watching Tanner and smiling. His attention was on Nico right now and she waved her hand in front of his face.

“Earth to Tanner.”

“What?” Tanner turned.

“Watching Nico again?”

Tanner blushed. “Is it that obvious?”

“It is to me. Hey, it’s okay, you know?” Arielle hugged him.

Nico watched Tanner with his friend and felt jealousy hit him hard.

“It doesn’t have to be this year, if that helps,” Nico said to his dad.

“It does.” Caleb held his son. “I just don’t know, Nico, not having you around…”

Nico smiled and hugged his dad. “I know.”

Joshua had Katarina in his arms and they were swimming across the pond. Kat was his best friend and she was so beautiful.

“Joshua?”

“Yes.” Joshua pulled Kat closer.

“Am I your best friend?” Kat’s blue eyes were sparkling.

“Yes, you always have been.”

Phoebe’s over-sexed nemesis Jaime was watching Stefan like a hawk watches an unsuspecting field mouse out for a springtime stroll in the grass. When he was alone she swooped in, making sure her breasts were front and center.

“Stefan, happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Jaime.”

Stefan Santorno was the hottest guy she had ever seen and she wanted him. It was just a matter of getting Phoebe Greystone out of the picture. As many times as she planted that seed of doubt in Phoebe’s head, Stefan had stayed true to his first love. It made her sick.

“We’re all going to the skating rink tonight, wanna come?” Jaime batted her eyelashes and got closer to Stefan.

“I can’t. I promised Phoebe we’d spend time together tonight.” Stefan noticed Phoebe walking toward him.

“Jaime.” Phoebe glared at the little slut.

“Phoebe.” Jaime smirked. “Well, maybe another time then.” Jaime kissed his cheek.

As soon as Jaime left, Phoebe shook her head at Stefan. Guys were so dumb.

“What?” Stefan asked, puzzled.

“She wants you.”

“Yeah, well I want you.” Stefan pulled her into his chest; he cupped her face and kissed her lightly. “It’s always been you, Phoebs.”

 

Viktoriya wrinkled her nose as she watched Jaime walk toward the house; Jordan came up behind her and hugged her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Jaime. She’s after Stefan.”

Jordan watched her sashay toward the deck and take Nico’s hand, smiling at him and rubbing herself against him.

“I think she changed guys.”

 

Tanner felt his gut drop as he watched Jaime touching his Nico; the urge to throw up hit him. Determined, he joined Nico and Jaime.

“Nico?”

“Hey.” Nico pulled him into his arms. “Are you all right?”

“I think I’m tired from the heat.”

“Well come on, let’s get you in.” Nico started them moving into the house.

“Bye, Jaime.” Tanner wiggled a finger wave toward the angry teen.

By the end of the evening most of the classmates had cleared out and all the kids sat in the living room watching TV. The cakes had been cut and eaten and presents ripped opened. Five months prior they had all been in Ireland for Christmas and New Year’s, as well as the December babies’ birthdays. They celebrated the birthdays in Angus’ pub. Jordan had laughed when most of the townspeople tried to buy the kids beer.

The plan this summer was to do a week with the grandparents followed by two weeks in Malta with their great-grandfather. The kids had gone almost every summer and Stefan Santorno-Youngblood’s father, Damon Santorno Sr., loved having them there.

Katiana leaned back in Landon’s arms and his arms wrapped around her protectively; she nestled into his neck and closed her eyes.

Landon leaned over and kissed her head. Kat was beautiful in every way and he really liked her; she was his best friend. Landon glanced over and saw Katarina sleeping in Joshua’s arms with Joshua grinning down at her. Joshua had a huge crush on Kat that he would never act on. They talked all the time and Landon had told him a thousand times to tell her how he felt.

By one in the morning, all the kids had fallen out and Stefan and Jordan covered them with blankets. Jordan kissed each and every one of them on their foreheads.

“Night little ones.”