Ben had always loved birthday celebrations, but there was something so much different about it being one for a family member, especially the uncle he hadn't had in his life before. He might miss his mom – too much on some days – but here, he had a whole big family, a dad and grandparents and uncles and all these family friends, and it made days like this kick quite a lot of ass. It led to Ben not knowing exactly what to do with himself, as it made him feel pretty chick flick, watching everybody be happy, knowing they'd all be hanging out together for the length of the party, like a family.
But he had to keep up the macho front, of course.
"Dude, that's a really dorky hat," he said, grinning up at Sam, wide enough to show all his teeth, his own 'dorky hat' perched on his head at a rakish sort of angle.