Dinner started half an hour after the pasta and salad were finished. When Eric returned with a loaf of fresh baked bread and Mrs. Houper toasted it with garlic butter.

“Seren, can you help set the table?” Their dad called.

“Ooh, I can’t remember the last time the dining room was used,” Mrs. Houper said excitedly. “Sorry I can’t stay but I have to get home to my family, enjoy your dinner!” Mrs. Houper grabbed her coat and hugged Seren before they could run off to grab the plates.

“I’ll bring down the plates and utensils.” Eric said, opening the cupboards. “And you can put them on the table.”

“Okay!’ Seren laughed Breaking free from Mrs. Houper and jumping to Eric’s side.

“Thank you for all your help, Monica.” Seren’s dad said. Plating up the pasta for the dining table.

“Think nothing of it, I’m happy to do it.” Mrs. Houper said.

“Thanks, get home safe.” Eric said, handing Seren three plates.

“Bye Mrs. Houper!” Seren said happily and skipped toward the dining room. Putting the plates on the table and running back to grab the salad bowls, forks and knives, and glasses, Clark brought the food to the table and the three of them sat down to dinner. Seren ran in and found Eric sitting next to Clark where Seren had intended to sit. They stared unsure what to do for a few minutes before walking around and sitting across from them instead.

“Hand me your plate, Seren.” Clark said, holding out his hand for Seren. They picked up their plate and handed it over.

“I’ll take your bowl,” Eric said, Seren handed over the salad bowl and the two adults put food onto the child's plate and handed it back over to them. Seren stared at the food and then at the two of them filling their own plates.

“What is it?” Their dad asked.

“It’s weird to eat at a table that doesn’t wobble. And with two grown-ups. It’s all weird.” Seren stated. They took a drink of their cider and started digging into their dinner.

“It’ll feel normal before you know it.” Eric said. Starting on his own dinner. Seren didn’t even seem to notice the comment as they plowed through their dinner. Their dad picked at his plate. Taking small bites and pushing most of the food around instead.

“Mm! Dad!” Seren said, through a mouthful of food.

“What is it?” Their dad asked.

“Are we going to make goats? And when is the yule log going to be done?” They asked

“We can make goats tomorrow and the log is for Yule but maybe tomorrow we can sneak a slice.” their dad said. Smiling mischievously. Seren sat up in excitement.

“Just throwing away all the rules, why not just move Yuletide altogether?” Eric muttered.

“I don’t think you can just move days around,” Seren said slowly, thinking about it hard. “Trying to get everyone on board with changing days around would be a hassle, especially this close to the date.” This had both Seren’s dad and Eric giggling.

“Yeah, I guess you're right.” Eric said, shaking his head. “Guess we’ll just have to wait for the actual day.” Seren finished eating before their plate was empty, they sat back with their cider mug and danced in their seat as they drank the cider.

“How come you don’t have any kids?” Seren asked suddenly. Both the adults looked up, slightly shocked.

“Serenity-” Eric started but Clark tapped his shoulder to quiet him.

“Not everyone wants kids, and that’s okay.” Clark said simply. “For some people, children aren’t a fun plan and there are other things in the world that they want instead. Some people have projects, and businesses that are like their babies.”

“Kids are filthy, disgusting. They stick their noses in places they aren’t supposed to be.” Eric said. Seren thought about it,

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“Eric.” Clark said. Seemingly at a loss for words. Eric looked at Clark with no notice of wrongdoing.

“I’m a kids,” Seren said slowly.

“And you are very often filthy and getting into trouble by poking your nose where you shouldn’t be,” Eric said blatantly. Seren grinned and laughed.

“Please tell me there’s a but somewhere in there,” Clark sighed, holding his head. Eric looked up thoughtfully.

“But…” He started, “I admire your determination and tenacity.”

“Thank you,” Seren said. “I like your ten-ta-city too.”

“Y’know, if you’re finished. Why don’t you go take a bath?” Clark said, out of breath.

“Okay!” Seren put their mug back down and jumped out of their chair. Once they were out of the room they heard the hushed laughter from the dining room. Seren went into the bathroom wondering what was so funny.

They ran the bathwater and almost transcended from their world in the hot water. Their mind wandered away to several different daydreams. Getting so invested that they started moving along with their mind. Suddenly, their daydream became a musical and they burst into a song they were making up as they went. Washing out their hair mostly on accident. Sitting in the bathwater until it turned cold.

“Seren? It’s been an hour, come on out.” Their dad knocked on the door.

“Kay!” Seren called back. They pulled the plug and crawled out onto the bath rug. The water had been so cold that the air outside the tub actually seemed warm. Seren toweled off and put their old clothes back on. Tossing the towel down the laundry chute, then leaving the bathroom.

“Did you forget to grab clothes?” Eric asked as he passed by the hall. “Go put on clean pajamas,” He sighed and Seren ran up the stairs to change.

“Give them a break, they’ve never had more than one set of clothes before.” Clark said, appearing in the doorway with another mug of hot cider.

“Did I sound upset?” Eric asked with a huff.

“You always sound upset. I think it’s just a part of your personality.” Clark smiled, he turned and fell against the doorframe. Dropping the mug to the ground with a clatter.

“Are you okay?” Eric grabbed Clark and steadied him.

“Yeah, turned too fast.” Clark said, holding his face. “I’ll get a towel and-”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll clean it up after you sit down,” Eric helped Clark out of the kitchen and into the sitting room. Dropping him onto the couch. “Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m fine.” Clark insisted, trying to sit up but shaking too much to steady himself.

“Are you sure?” Eric asked.

“Yes.”

Eric left the sitting room as Seren came running down the stairs. Vaulting the last three steps and landing heavy on the wood floor.

“Hey! Not so loud! You’ll wake the dead.” Eric chastised as he grabbed a towel from the cleaning closet.

“What are you doing?” Seren asked, locking their hands behind their back.

“Cleaning up a mess.” Eric answered, tossing the towel onto the spilt cider. “Come help me,”

“ ‘kay!” Seren slid onto their knees and wiped up the mess as Eric took the mug to the sink. He rolled up his sleeves to finish the dishes Clark had started. “Where’d dad go?” Seren asked as they stood up with the wet towel.

“The sitting room, throw that in the laundry chute on your way.” Eric said, “try not to make too much noise. The neighbors are sleeping.”

“I thought it was so I don’t wake the dead?” Seren asked cheekily.

“And the dead are our neighbors, now get out of here.” Eric said, and Seren giggled and ran off. Pausing by the laundry chute in the bathroom to throw the dirty towel down it. Seren ran into the sitting room where their dad was resting on the sofa. His head leaned on the back and his eyes closed. Seren ran around him and jumped onto the sofa.

“Oh! Seren! Don’t do that.” Clark sat up and then fell back, clumsily bringing an arm up to cover his eyes.

“Do you need your medicine? Did you leave it at home? I can run and grab it.” Seren was up on their feet and halfway out of the room before their dad called them back.

“No, no I don’t need it. The doctor said no more medicine.” He said. Rolling his head to the side and looking at Seren with a weak smile. Seren narrowed their eyes at him.

“That doesn’t sound right,” they said slowly.

“It is, no more medicine.” Their dad insisted, Seren slowly approached the sofa again and scrutinized their father’s blue eyes. “For the rest of my life, no medicine.” Seren puzzled hard, staring at the crack in the sofa cushions between them.

“I don’t understand,” they said. The feeling of dread punched them like a fist in their gut.

“That’s okay. All you have to understand is that I love you, I always have and always will.” He pushed himself up and took Seren’s hands into his. “And I am so proud of you. Of everything you’ve done, how far you’ve come. You have always, always been the best thing that ever happened to me.” Seren looked at their dad’s face, ice in their veins and a booming beat in their ears.

“Okay,” they nodded quietly.

“Why are there so many lights on in here?” Eric asked as he entered the sitting room. Looking at all the decorations Mrs. Houper put up.

“They’re the Yule decorations we got today.” Seren said gratefully. More than happy to change the subject. Eric stared distastefully at the lights and then sighed.

“Gaudy.” He said under his breath and turned off the decorations. “Waste of electricity. Not every house has electricity in this city we don’t need to be burning through it like a-”

“Fire?” Seren asked helpfully. “There’s a fireplace! And Mrs. Houper had kindling and stuff brought in!”

“No.” Eric said, stopping the suggestion dead.

“Okay!” Seren said, still excited.