“This is what happens when you play a prank on the kid.” Sophia scolded him, on which Calvin pouted innocently.
Soon, the celebration started with the cake cutting, but more like cake cutting, Calvin gave importance to spoiling the cake in Artin's own way so that he could click candid pictures of his nephew. And the same thing happened, Caroline made him sear on the table of cake, and Artin grabbed the cake like a wolf grabbed something with his or her paw and ate it by covering half of his face. In the beginning, he took multiple photos of the birthday boy and then with all the family members.
After this, Artin took a ride on Artemis’s back and then played with the kids of his age, made new friends, and then played in fake rain, jumping here and there in the mud along with his new friends.
“Calvin, when will you send these pictures?” Caroline asked, getting excited after seeing all the pictures.
“Each photo will cost $100.” Calvin joked on which Caroline smacked his arms.
“No, seriously, Calvin. I can’t wait to have these photos on my phone.” Artemis said, “When are you going to send them?”
“Please send me as well.”
“Also me.”
“Even me.”
“Don’t forget to send me.”
“You have my number, right? Or email id?”
“STOP,” Calvin said, shutting everyone’s mouths. “Why do I always get the vibes of an iPhone holder in the group of Androids?” he questioned. “I will send everyone their part of the photos by tomorrow's EOD.”
“Do you want to say something?” He asked, looking at Santino, who wanted pictures as well but having a hard time speaking the same.
“He wants to say that send him the pictures as well,” Caroline replied instead of him when Santino didn’t reply anything for a while.
“Just like in superman costume, it is important to wear red underwear in the same; it is that important not to reveal the real feelings behind the serious face?” Calvin joked and looked at Colton at Liara. “This was for you two.”
“Hehe!! This was not at all funny.” Liara muttered, and in the next moment, they started fighting again like a baby.
Caroline shook her head and walked out from there to drag her munchkin from the mud and change his clothes.
“Mamma! I want to… take a bath.” Artin whined.
“Sure, sweetheart. I’m taking in the washroom itself.”
“But Mamma… I want…”
“Be a good boy, Artin or I won’t take you out with me and leave here with Grandpa and Grandma.” Caroline fake-threatened him after that, and Artin didn’t say a word.
****
After an hour!!
Artin forgot about everything when he started receiving gifts, and caroline smiled, staying away from him to let him handle the situation on his own. She didn’t want to make him Mamma’s boy.
“Is the packing done?” Artemis asked, wrapping his hand around her waist.
“Yes!! But what’s the name of our next station?” She asked, kissing his cheek.
“Guess?”
“Switzerland? Because you wanted to take me there.” Caroline guessed, hoping at him, and a smile appeared on his face when he heard her answer. “Am I right?”
“How can you be wrong, Regina? Wife is always right.” He joked before slamming his lips against her.
"Arti!!" Artin called Artemis when he saw him with Caroline, but Artemis ignored him because Artin always used to act like a third wheel whenever he used to kiss or stayed close to Caroline. Hell, he used to do competition with Artemis indirectly.
They also had a small fight over Caroline when Artemis claimed Caroline as his mate and coping Artemis's words; even Artin said that Caroline was his mate.
"Artiiiiii....." Artin yelled loudly, but Artemis ignored him, already knowing that he was with family members, not in some danger. “Papa!!” Artemis broke the kiss and looked at Artin, who called him with that word that he had wanted to hear for so long. Leaving Caroline’s side, he reached Artin.
“What… what did you say, Champ?”
“Papa”
Artemis couldn’t understand whether it was Artin’s birthday or his because he got the second-best gift of his life. He wanted to Artin to Papa from the day he had heard him calling Caroline Mamma, but he didn’t say so. Caroline said that he had to spend and give time to Artin and make Artin feel secure and comfortable around him rather than expecting the result without doing anything.
He picked Artin in his arms. "Repeat it again, champ."
"Papa"
"Again?"
"Papa," Artin said again. Artemis hugged him tightly after kissing him all over the face.
"You have no idea how happy I'm. Thank you. Thank you so much, champ." Artin said while Caroline crossed her arms around her chest and looked at Artin when he had his head on Artemis's shoulder. He was giving her a mischievous smile. She understood his sly tricks to keep Artemis away from her but little did he know that he had indeed given the best gift to Artemis. Maybe he wouldn't understand that today but someday... someday, he would.
..
#TBC
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A/N: Dear Reader, I hope you remember that I will be out of the station from 14th Oct and return back on 21st Oct (around one at night).
I had planned this trip in 2019 when I had started working, but thanks to COVID, I couldn't make it in 2020 & 2021. Now, finally, it's time.