Work Text:
A cry rings through the baby monitor, rousing Eddie from his impromptu nap.
"I'm coming, babies!" Eddie shout-yawns. He dashes to the twins' room and finds Harper sitting up, tears streaming down his face.
"What's wrong, love?" When Eddie picks him up, the smell nearly singes his eyebrows off. "Oh, got it. I'd be upset if I woke up in a pile of my own shit too." Eddie says before changing his diaper. As he redresses him in fresh clothes, Harley wakes in much the same manner as her brother. With a put upon sigh, Eddie repeats the cleaning process. Once he’s finished, he puts a baby on each hip and heads to the living room.
"Amelia!" Eddie calls. "Quiet time is over."
There's a happy shout before Amelia runs in. “Good afternoon, Harper, Harley, and Papa.” She kisses each baby's cheek and Eddie's forehead, then crawls into his lap.
“Papa do we have any construction paper? I can't find it anywhere!" Amelia sighs dramatically. Eddie can't help but laugh. They’ve only had her for three years, but she’s just as Munson as the rest of them.
"I think there's some in Dad's desk. Why do you need it?"
"For the birthday party," She says as if it should be obvious. Eddie furrows his brows thinking hard. The babies were born in summer, so it's not them. His birthday just passed, Steve and Robin aren't until February, Chrissy and Wayne are in March, Amelia is in August...nope, Eddie has no clue.
"Whose birthday?" He finally asks.
"The Earth!" Amelia shouts, throwing her hands up.
"Alright, you lost me." Eddie admits. Amelia flops back with a snarky look that could only be learned from Steve.
"New Year's Eve is a big party with fireworks and bubbly drinks! I get to stay up past my bedtime and watch a shiny ball drop. Then we change the last numbers when we write the date. We learned in science that the Earth rotates around the sun and that’s a year. And Dad told me when I rotate around the sun for a year that’s when I get older!" Amelia explains. Those are great points, Eddie has to admit.
"The Earth is way older than the year we write though." Eddie reminds her.
"Well duh!" Amelia sighs, exasperated. "People lie about their ages all the time of course they lie about the Earth! No one wants to live on an old planet." Her logic is pretty sound. As far as Eddie’s concerned, there’s only one choice. Tonight’s New Year’s Eve party is now a birthday party.
"What flavor cake do you think the Earth likes?" He asks.
"Hmm... cookies and cream cake with mint ice cream. The cookies and cream is for the dirt and the mint ice cream for the plants!" It's an odd combination, but it sounds kind of good.
"Alright, pass me the phone." Eddie calls Steve, apologizing for disrupting his work. "Love can you run to the store for some stuff?" He pleads, texting a list over.
“Why do we need birthday candles?"" Steve asks.
"Your daughter wants to throw the Earth a birthday party." That's all the explanation Steve needs.
"I'll stop by after work. Should I tell the girls?" He laughs.
"Yep! I'll call the guys and Wayne, let everyone know to bring gifts for the Earth.” Eddie has no idea what exactly those will be, but he’s sure everyone will figure it out. Amelia has them all wrapped around her little fingers.
"I'll get something while I’m out. Love you, all." Steve says.
"Love you too!" Amelia and Eddie shout into the phone and both babies babble.
"Alright Amelia, let's find that construction paper!" Eddie smiles. His little girl's outlook on life-never ceases to amaze him.