Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lucy quietly walks in the twins' bedroom and opens the blinds to let the light of the Sun gently wake her little boys.

During their previous birthday, the twins started some sort of competion: whoever wishes the other one "Happy Birthday" first wins.
Kate and Lucy were perplexed at why or how the competition even started, Lucy decided to accept the fact that it must be some "twin thing twins do" and Kate rolled with it.

In order to level the playing field today, Lucy wakes up Victor first as opposed to Andrew as she did last year, which gave Andrew the advantage and allowed him to win.

-Happy birthday Vic!- she whispers as she takes him in her arms and kisses him. -Let's wake Andy, shall we?- Victor nods with excitement, he is about to win.

-Happy birthday Andy!- the boy gleefully exclaims, followed by his mom.

-I won! I won!- Victor chants.

Lucy takes Andrew in her arms as well and holds both kids.

-Happy birthday Vic!- Andrew mumbles, he is way too sleepy to fully acknowledge the fact that he just lost the competition.

-Good morning, birthday boys!- Lucy gives each of them a kiss. -Let's go!-

The mom carries them in the kitchen, where Noah and Kate are making Victor and Andrew's favourite foods for breakfast.

-Happy birthday, happy birthday!- Noah squeals as soon as he sees his brothers and runs towards them.

-Good morning!- Kate greets her sons and Lucy with a kiss on the forehead each.

Lucy sets down the twins, they are getting too big to be carried and she doesn't do it anymore, but today is an exception because Lucy likes to spoil her kids on their birthdays.

-Happy birthday!- Kate says as she hugs both of them. -Noah insisted on making your favourite breakfast foods.-

-Pancakes for Andy and oatmeal for Vic!- Noah exclaims.

Lucy can't wrap her head around how Victor can enjoy eating that glop, it's probably because he takes after Kate.

After breakfast, Noah is excited to give his little brothers the presents he got for them when he went to the Sea Life Park with mom and mama, he got a sea lion for Andrew and a penguin for Victor.

The boys thank their big brother, they seem to enjoy the plushies, especially Andrew, who likes playing with fluffy things.

The family completes their morning routine and soon everyone is off to either work or school.

It's a dull day at work, apparently even the wicked rest from time to time, Lucy decides to text her wife.

		Whistler Wifey
		last online 7:22

Today

Ava

Hey Kate ❤️

8:48

Bea

Found this gem in my camera roll😍

8:48

Can you believe they turn 5 today?

8:48

Ava

Kate is determined to file all her paperwork as fast as she can, she is a bit behind on decorating the house for Andrew and Victor's birthday party, work has been hectic lately and she didn't have the time to properly plan anything, luckily the Whistlers decided on a small party, just family and some of the kids' friends.

After a coffee break with some other FBI agents, Kate decides to check her phone and exchange some texts with Lucy.

		Agent Tara
		online

Today

Hey Kate❤️

8:48

Found this gem in my camera roll😍

8:48

Can you believe they turn 5 today?

8:48

Ava

They are so cute! No, I cannot believe they turn five today!

10:31

THANK GOD YOU REPLIED! REPORTS ARE BOOOOOOORIIIIING☹️

10:31

What are you gonna pick for the gift race?

A) the same thing just different color

B) the exact same thing

C) "you two can share"

10:32

How about A?

10:33

Playing it safe huh? I think B is gonna win.😌😌😌

10:33

gtg ttyl ily😘😘

10:34

I love you too❤️

10:34

Ava

It's the twins' fifth birthday and, quite like their sons, Kate and Lucy have picked up a new tradition called "the gift race", they have to guess what kind of presents the twins get.
The Whistlers got the idea based on the patterns of the gifts the boys have received during the years.

Last year there were a lot of "A"s, so Kate went with the most obvious choice.
It's a silly competition, there is no prize for who guesses right, but according to Lucy the prize is eternal glory, so she takes it more seriously than she should, especially because she miserably lost last year and she has to make up for it.

Self-appointed master of twin birthdays Lucy thinks this year will be different since the boys insisted on inviting some friends over.

		Agent Tara
		online

Love you more❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

13:20

Found another one😍

13:20

Ava

They are adorable!❤️❤️

13:22

Also, I'm finally done with reports🤙🏻

13:22

Well done, my sweet!❤️

13:23

I'll pick up the boys from school and the cakes from the bakery, so you can focus on ✨️finishing touches✨️

13:24

Alright, I will see you at home.

13:24

Ava

Lucy picks up the birthday boys and Noah, they all head to the bakery to pick up the cakes, Andrew chose a chocolate cake and since Victor didn't have any preference, his mom may or may not have nudged him towards a red velvet cake because it may or may not be her favourite.

They arrive at home and Kate is still decorating, they still have about a couple of hours before the guests arrive, plenty of time for a shower and getting into party attire.

The guests start arriving, Andrew and Victor welcome their friends and head to the backyard to play tag and run around, careful not to damage Whistler's orchids, under the watchful eyes of Lucy, uncle Jesse and Donald, Noah's best friend's dad.

The adults hang out inside with Kate, they chit-chat and snack on some food. Jane recalls Julie and Alex's birthdays when they were kids and Kate's parents pitch in with similar stories about Kate and Noah.
Uncle Kai, Pike and Commander Chase are chatting about the latest cases they solved, whereas some parents who decided to stay talk about school and gossip about changes in the neighborhood.
Kate goes back and forth between the groups, serving hors-dʼoeuvre, being embarrassed by the stories her parents tell Tennant, she casually chats with Kai's group and listens to the gossiping without partaking in it.

A couple of hours into the party and it's time for the cakes, Kate lights the candles and everyone sings happy birthday, once for Andrew and once for Victor.
Andrew blows on his candles and also on some of Victor's, the latter doesn't seem to mind though and Andrew is quite happy his brother let him get away with his shenanigans, everyone laughs and luckily uncle Ernie, who was in charge of the photos, captured this moment on camera.

Once all the guests are gone and the party is over, the kids start opening up their presents, both Kate and Lucy quietly keeping a tally.
The NCIS team came together and got them bikes which were different colors. Point for Kate.
Pike gave them similar boat models (which was counted as "A", another point for Kate)
Grandad and grandma gave them building blocks. (arguably "C")
The friends and neighbourhood kids all gifted them the exact same thing: same t-shirts, same sweaters, same toys, hence Lucy won.

Lucy and Kate put the kids to sleep and then they head to the kitchen, Lucy is eating some cake leftovers and Kate is cleaning up.

-I suppose congratulations are in order...- Kate says and Lucy grins from ear to ear.

Just like their sons' competition, there isn't a prize for the winner, (not counting eternal glory), but Lucy wants to change that.

-You know, this should be the prize- Lucy says in between mouthfuls of cake. -The loser cleans up and has to watch the winner eat cake leftovers!-

Kate raises an eyebrow. -That's exactly what we did last year, but I won...-

Lucy shrugs. -We didn't decide on the prize back then...-

-Okay, it's decided then- Kate says and extends her hand. They shake hands like they just closed a business deal.

-Next year you will be the one stuck with cleaning!- Whistler warns her.

Lucy isn't scared at all, she is confident she is going to win every single year from now on.

-I won! I won!- Lucy keeps chanting in between mouthfuls of cake all evening while Kate tidies up.