Seren’s hand trembled. They carefully placed the mint leaf into the piped whipped cream and jumped back triumphantly.

“It’s complete!” They called. On the counter sat the fresh baked Yule log cake. A chocolate sheet cake covered with chocolate frosting that was rolled up into a cylinder and covered with more chocolate frosting to make it look like firewood. Then it was decorated with mint leaves, sweet berries, and cream.

“Seren, I think you have entirely outdone yourself this year!” Their dad said, grabbing them and pulling them into a hug. They laughed and clapped their hands.

“Can we eat it now?!” Seren asked.

“After dinner, I’m making your favorite.” Clark said, squeezing their shoulders.

“Nuh-uh!” Seren gasped. They screeched in pure joy. “This is the best Yuletide ever!”

“Good,” their dad said, hugging them tighter. “All right, you grab the flour and lets make some fresh pasta.”

“Fresh pasta!” Seren cheered and ran into the pantry. They grabbed the pound of flour and waddled out of the pantry.

“Hey dad!” They called,

“What’s up, kid?” their dad turned and wiped his hands on his apron.

“Is this going to be what every holiday is going to be like from now on?” Seren asked. Their dad watched them, a little hint of something in his eyes.

“I hope so,” he said finally. Seren brought the flour over and put it up on the counter and stepped up onto a chair so they could help roll the fresh pasta out. “You know. The rude lady at the party this morning said something weird.”

“I imagine she said lots of weird things.” Clark laughed.

“She said, it must be something, something to have two dads.” Seren said, dumping the cup of flour into the bowl. Releasing a cloud of white flour that left Seren’s face pasty white. They chuckled madly. Holding the flour cup out for a refill but pausing when flour didn’t start pouring into their cup. Their dad was staring into the flour.

“Fill’er up please.” Seren said innocently. Their dad snapped out of the trance.

“Oh, right, sorry.” Their dad spooned a few more plops of flour into the cup.

“What were you thinkin’ ‘bout?” Seren asked.

“Oh, nothing.” Their dad shook their head and sighed with a short chuckle. “Nothing. Should we add something fun? I bet they have beetroot or something else to make the pasta a funny color.” Seren screamed with laughter.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!” Seren bounced so hard on the chair they slipped off. Falling onto the floor heavily.

“Are you okay?” Their dad asked,

“Yup!” Seren scrambled back up onto the chair. “Can we make them blue?!”

“Uh, maybe. See if there’s any red cabbage in the chest.” Their dad waved a hand and Seren leapt for the fridge. Too excited for words. Clark smiled as he heard Seren’s annoyed sigh.

“No cabbage, huh?” he asked.

“No.” Seren frowned.

“Clark,” Eric appeared in the doorway. Gesturing up the stairs. “A word?”

“Oh, here we go.” Clark rolled his eyes. “See if Mrs. Houper will help you with the pasta, okay?”

“Okay?” Seren said, looking between the two. “You aren’t gonna fight, are you?” Clark and Eric stared at each other then Clark shrugged.

“Yeah, probably.” Clark said honestly. “We are very different people and we deal with things in very different ways. So we’re gonna butt heads.”

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“Oh.” Seren said simply, they shrugged and ran off to find Mrs. Houper. Clark’s smile faded and he turned to look at Eric.

“So what did I do now?” Clark wiped the flour off his hands.

“Outside. Now.” Eric snapped storming toward the back door.

“Why? Seren’s heard bad language before, not going to be a surprise.” Clark said, folding his arms but still followed him out. Shivering in the nighttime cold.

“Couldn’t wait until we got our coats?” Clark asked, jumping slightly when Eric slammed the door.

“What are you thinking!” He yelled, lights in the surrounding houses turning on. Clark’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Why did you leave? Why didn’t you SAY something!”

“Say something about what?” Clark shook his head and looked up innocently.

“Don’t bullshit me!” Eric snapped. “I called the hospital-”

“You got into my medical records?” Clark interrupted. “They LET you get into my medical records?”

"I know people!" Eric yelled. "There's nothing in this city I can't get into! And we're talking about you!"

"There is nothing to talk about." Clark lowered his voice. Looking around at the lit windows, shivering. "Now let's go back inside."

"There is a lot to talk about. Like why didn't you say something?" Eric continued yelling.

"To who? Why? What would have been the point?" Clark threw out his arms, instantly regretting it as the little bit of heat he named to hold on to escaped.

"I could have been prepared," Eric scoffed.

"Nothing to prepare for, I'm leaving tonight anyway!" Clark crossed his arms again to try and hold the heat in.

"Like hell you are," Eric retorted. He sighed pacing up and down the steps. Clark watched, feeling the already full well of guilt overflowing.

Finally.“Isn’t there a treatment?A medicine? Something?” Eric asked, still covering his eyes with his hands.

“Yeah, but” Clark fell against the doorframe. “The meds I’d be on would mean everything would be dangerous. A papercut would be life threatening. I’d have to live in a padded room in a facility, practically strapped to the bed for days at a time. That’s no way to live. The only way I’d see Seren is… Once a week, barely. I can’t live like that. I can’t make them live like that.”

“This isn’t about them. It’s.” Eric stopped, he stumbled to find an argument before giving up. “How long?”

“Probably sooner than I’d like.” Clark said, still shivering. He watched Eric for a few more minutes. “It’s not about Seren, is it?”

"I'll get out of the invitation. I can bet Nicole would give almost anything for it." Eric said, walking back up the stairs and opening the door. Ushering Clark back inside. Clark ran inside blowing into his cupped hands for heat. "I can come up with some reason,"

"Thanks, also. Mrs. Houper knows where I put Seren's Yule present." Clark whispered. Eric narrowed his eyes in confusion. Realization clearing it up when he heard the tiny gasp of an eavesdropping child.

"Good. I'll have her put it with the others." Eric said, prompting the confusion to travel to Clark's face.

"You actually got them something?" He asked even quieter.

"Of course I did." Eric said, avoiding Clark's eyes.

"You're bluffing. You did not." Clark scoffed.

"If I said I did then I did." Eric doubled down.

"All right, I mean." Clark shrugged, stepping closer to Eric to be heard better. "It's not like it be hard to find children's toys so close to Yule. So I'm sure you got something nice a while ago. Something like that pretty fashion doll in the window of that you store two blocks down. I bet Seren will love it."

"I don't need a hint!" Eric snapped. Clark shrugged.

"Suit yourself." Clark said and went back into the kitchen. Seren turned with the smygest grin their little face could make.

"You were talking about presents," they said.

"Then why were you listening?" Clark asked sarcastically. Poking their nose. "How's the pasta coming along?"

"The noodles are ready to be cooked." Mrs. Houper said , washing her hands. "This looks like it'll be delicious."

"It always is!" Seren said, climbing up onto the chair. Clark took the bowl and boiled a pot of water. Finishing up dinner while chatting with Mrs. Houper, Seren adding random pearls of conversation every so often. Clark didn't want to say it out loud, but Seren had been gaining weight and no longer looked worryingly thin.

"If we're going to have pasta, we should have garlic bread." Eric said from the doorway.

"Oh, do you want to go grab some?" Clark asked.

"No." Eric said, "I swear Kalyani made bread this morning."

"But some fresh from the bakery would be so much better!" Mrs. Houper winked at Clark.

"Fine " Eric sighed, realizing he was outnumbered. "I'll be back." He walked through the kitchen and headed for the front door.

"Wait, why?" Seren asked.

"Cause it'll be delicious, and we're sure there are other chores that need doing." Mrs. Houper said.

"Besides, he hated cooking. Remember?" Clark asked. Seren thought about it for a second.

"Oh yeah! I forgot," Seren laughed and sat on the counter. "He'll be back in time for dinner though, right?"

"He'd better! He'll be bringing them bread!" Mrs. Houper laughed. Clark laughed and Seren started at them both, utterly confused

"You two are weird." They concluded.