Ajay's First Birthday

Ajay was turning one today and well...it was pretty sad for Ellie, ha. He was getting bigger and bigger everyday, her little boy was growing up. She decided to have a small get together to celebrate his birthday and that was about it. She was in the backyard of her house, putting some balloons up when she heard Shannon come in. "Hey Shan." she smiled as she saw him.

"Hey. Ajay is where?"

"Over there." she said as she pointed towards where Madison and Ajay were...by the swings.

"Ajay, you are a big boy now, so I can't help you anymore and do things for you. You have to do it by yourself, kay? Kay." Madison nodded.

Ajay just babbled something to Madison. He was still learning how to talk and didn't know many words.

"Hi Shannon!" Madison greeted as she hugged him. "Where's Mimi?"

"Don't know, not sure if she's coming, but I'm here." he said as he helped her on the swing.

Ellie heard the doorbell ring. "We're out in the back!" she said.

"I come bearing gifts and bratty Brooks children," Lacy announced as she came through the back gate carrying a big box. Allison trailed behind Lacy, clutching onto her shirt while Brandon came in behind her. "And the original bratty Brooks," she chuckled, referring to Phil.

"Well I love your brats." she laughed. "Except Punk."

"Whatever, you love me. Don't deny it." he smirked. "Made me leave my house when I was all comfortable to come here. We were having husband and wife time." he chuckled. "Damn you."

"You don't need that." she joked. "Thank you for coming though, it means a lot."

"No problem," Lacy chuckled. "Oh Madison Ruby Jonessss," she called.

"Ugh," Brandon groaned, frowning.

"Hi Ellie," Allison waved at her before clutching onto Daddy's leg. Mainly because she saw Shannon and had no idea who he was.

"Shannon. Take me off." Madison said as Shannon chuckled and took Madison off the swing. "Layley!" she grinned as she ran towards her.

"Hi Allison." Ellie smiled.

Phil picked Allison up. "Why are you holding onto my leg?" he asked with a chuckle as he kissed her cheek.

Brandon rolled his eyes at Madison and went to go over on the swings. Sup, Shannon.

"Hi baby," Lacy laughed and picked her up, kissing her cheek.

Allison just pointed at Shannon and hid her face in Phil's neck shyly.

"Hey Brandon." Shannon nodded.

"You come to see me?" Madison asked.

"Oh. Shannon? Ah, he's nice." he nodded. "See? Brandon is talking to him."

"Hi.. man." He didn't bother to catch his name, and climbed up on the swing. What?

"It's Ajay's birthday, so I had to bring him a present," Lacy told her.

"Bam Bam stupid," Ally muttered into his shoulder.

Shannon just shrugged to himself and watched Brandon.

"....and you come to see me." she nodded.

"Hey now, be nice."

"You are telling her to be nice? You sure are a changed man." Ellie teased.

"Oh shut up." he joked.

"Who's he?" Brandon asked Shannon, jerking his thumb at Ajay.

"No honey, I came to give your brother his present." Lacy chuckled before hearing Ellie's comment. "Yeah, Brandon and Allison have made him a big ol' softy." She smirked.

"But he is," Ally complained, resting her head on his shoulder. She was sleepy. When Daddy was home, she tended not to nap.

"That's Ellie's baby." he told him. "His name is Ajay."

"What'd you get him?" she asked.

"I noticed." Ellie smirked.

Phil rolled his eyes a little at Ellie. "Go talk to your husband or something. Oh wait..." he smirked.

"Jerk move." she said as she headed back inside.

"Well, just don't say that."

Brandon looked over at Ajay. "He no talk."

"It's a surpri--" Lacy heard Phil's comment and smacked his chest lightly. "Jack, why would you even..?"

"He does a little." he nodded.

"What? She's fine." Phil chuckled. "She knows I am kidding."

"Not to me." Brandon crossed his arms.

"She's really sensitive about that," Lacy told him as she put Maddie down.

"Well you've got to talk to him."

"She'll live."

"I'm the guest, he should talk to me." Sounding like his mother.

Lacy shook her head. "Go.. talk to Shannon or something," she said and went in the house. "El?"

"He's in the swing and he's a baby, he doesn't know that."

"Booo, fine." he said as he went by Brandon and Shannon.

"Si senorita?" she asked as she finished getting some food together. "What's up?"

"He is not a baby, my mommy got him a car. Babies don't have cars. Duh." Brandon rolled his eyes, unknowingly spoiling Ajay's present.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were cool after what Ja-- Phil said out there. I know you're still cranky about the whole AJ thing."

"Ohhhh car?" Ajay asked.

"He got a car? No fair." Maddie frowned.

"Lacy, I'm over it." she chuckled. "AJ will have to come home eventually to see the kids and when he does, I know they'll be happy." she shrugged. "I want them to be happy, I could care less about myself. Anyway, moving on...what do you want me to make you? I'm gonna grill some things."

"See? He talks and has a car. Not a baby," Brandon scoffed. "Be quiet, Maddie."

Lacy was a little surprised at Ellie's answer. "Uh, nah. I'm not hungry. Haven't had much of an appetite."

Madison frowned at Brandon. "Why are you being mean?"

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because I don't like you," Brandon said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and looked at Phil. "I want down."

"You know I haven't had an appetite for like, eight months." Lacy laughed a little. "I can help you cook."

Madison frowned, she had never been told that one before. "Oh."

Phil was just amused and put Brandon down.

"Silly woman." she chuckled. "Well, if you want, I started a fruit salad. You can finish putting that together."

"Bam Bam mean!" Allison frowned at her brother.

"So." He shrugged.

"Fruit salad? How girly." She laughed. "Well you see how much weight I've lost, and between trying to get things back to normal with Phil and the fucking chaos that's been up lately, food hasn't really been my friend. Phil bitches at me about it all of the time, not to worry."

Madison just teared up and went inside.

"Brandon, that wasn't nice of you to do that." Phil told him. "You wouldn't like it if somebody said they didn't like you."

"What chaos?" Ellie asked.