The next day, Ciel woke up first out of the two of them and it was due to him smelling something cooking. He got up leaving Serena to sleep to see that Mark was cooking. "Morning sir." Ciel stated
"You don't need to call me that. Just call me Mark kid. Is Serena still asleep?"
Ciel nodded his head. "Yeah, I did manage to wake up in the middle of the night to hear her crying in her sleep."
Mark sighed out and shook his head. "Serena has had a lot of bad memories of when she wouldn't celebrate her birthday. This year I want it to be different. I've already made arrangements with Noah for her birthday. Mind waking her up? Breakfast is almost done."
Ciel nodded his head again. "Sure, I can do that."
He went back into the living room where he went to wake up Serena by shaking her awake, as he did she jolted awake only to see that it was Ciel that had woken her up. He looked at her sadly. "Were...Were you having a nightmare Serena?"
"Yeah, but it's fine...I'm used to them by now." She said with a sigh
Ciel looked at her upset. "If you say so. Your father wanted me to wake you up. It seems like he's almost done making breakfast."
Serena nodded her head and she got up to brush her hair before she got a few bottles from her bag. Afterwards she went into the kitchen with Ciel and sat down where she had the night before. When Mark saw his daughter sitting down he went up to her and hugged her tightly before kissing her cheek. "Happy birthday Serena."
Serena smiled as she looked up at her father. "Thank you papa."
Once he was finish making breakfast, Serena's eyes lit up as she saw what he had made for breakfast. "How'd you know I like this papa?!"
"Mitchel messaged me this morning about what your favorite breakfast was."
Serena averted her eyes. "Well at least he knows how to pay attention to me."
Ciel looked at her curiously. "I have to ask-in the past how did you use to spend your birthday Serena?"
"Are you talking while or after being in the stupid orphanage?"
"Both."
"Well, while I was in the orphanage I was ignored on my birthday. I was only told on my birthday 'Oh by the way it's your birthday. You're x years old now.' and they moved on with the day. After I was adopted into Noah's family, sure they'd say 'happy birthday' to me. But I never got anything for my birthday for two years-that all changed when the child protection services were called after I passed out while I was in my gym class." Serena explained
Mark had no idea how Noah had treated Serena before he knew her as Noah's adoptive child so hearing what she had he had to make sure to treat her differently.
"They hadn't fed me in over a year and half. Sure I had small snackies that I kept in my room that kept me from completely starving myselef. But it wasn't enough to keep my body running, when CPS found out that I was being starved and forgotten they got involved in the adoption process of me being in the family. And it was after that-that they slowly began to sing a different tune around me knowing darn well that if things didn't go well things would be different in the house. Ever since I was ten I slowly started to get small things for my birthday but it wasn't ever anything I liked since no one in that house really wanted to get to know me. They 'guessed' what I liked as if they were comparing me to those *s that were Noah's blood children. I'm nothing like Nile, Mitchel, Emily, Justina or that meanie that hurt me."
"Serena, I have to ask. Did any of them ever physically harm you?" Mark asked
Serena shook her head no. "I wasn't ever physically harmed-just hurt emotionally cause they'd say really mean things to me."
"Well you're a lot younger than Justina and Tyler. It would make sense for them not to know what to do with you kiddo. But don't worry you'll be okay here. You're my only child." Mark said with a smile
After they finished eating breakfast Serena took her medication, which made Mark curious as to what medication she took only to see that she took the same depression medication he took. "You have depression too kid?"
Serena nodded her head. "Yeah, Just last year I was placed on this medication and I also started to take birth control too."
"Well it's a good thing you take birth control with what had happened you ya kid." Mark stated placing the bottle down
Serena nodded her head in agreement. "So what are we doing today Papa?"
"Well since I couldn't get you a gift in time for your birthday. We're going to Toys R Us and You can pick out what you want from there alright?"
Serena's eyes lit up as she nodded her head. "Okay!"
Serena got from the table and she got herself dressed before she helped Ciel get himself ready. Once they were good to go, they left out with Mark. Ciel looked to Serena curiously. "Serena, what's a Toys R Us?" He asked curiously
"It's a large brand of different types of toys from little toddler toys to big kid toys." Serena said happily
"Oh I see. Have you ever been there before?" Ciel asked
"Nope! This is the first time I'm ever going there." She said excitedly
Mark overheard them talking and knew he had to talk to Noah about how he had been treating Serena. It was obvious that she was treated like utter * and she had been faking being 'happy' for the sake of being around him. When they got to Toys R Us Serena was very excited to be able to go into the Toys R Us. As they went into the store Serena's eyes lit up with how much was inside of the store, she looked up at her father. "What's my cost limit papa?"
"Don't worry about that sweetie. If there's something you want to get just let me know alright?"
Serena nodded her head and she took Ciel by the hand before she showed him around the store. Mark walked behind the two of them silently, he wanted to observe just how Serena acted around Ciel with the knowledge that he had that his daughter actually liked the little kid she was dragging around. Serena soon got a large box that had pokemon cards in it and a large Plush of Squirtle.
"You're into Pokemon?" He asked
She nodded her head. "I am."
"Interesting, I know your cousins are into that * too. I'll hold onto them. Keep looking kiddo."
Serena smiled and she gave the box and plush to her father who held onto them as he continued to watch the duo. By the end of the two of them going through the store. She only got two more things which were Uno cards to be able to play a game with him and a Neopet. Mark bought everything she wanted for her before he gave her the bag. "Happy birthday Serena. Enjoy your things."
"Thank you so much papa!" She said happily
Once they got to the car Mark got a call on his cell phone. "Mark speaking."
"Hey uncle Mark-Its Mitchel, We're ready for Serena to come by when you're ready to get here."
"Alright, We'll be there soon Mitchel." He said before he unlocked the car for the kids and let them in first before he went in
He saw that instantly Serena was hugging her squirtle plush which made him happy to see that Serena had a smile on her face for once. As he drove to Noah's place he could hear the two kids talking in the back of his car. It was a fifteen minute drive from the store to where Noah's family lived. Serena placed her squirtle plush in the middle of her and Ciel before she got out of the car, as she got onto the porch her eyes were covered which freaked her out and made her stop walking. "W-Who has their hands over my eyes?!"
"Sorry Rina-it's just me." ciel said sincerely
"Oh... Why?"
"You'll see soon." ciel stated calmly as she soon felt her fathers hands over hers "Your father is going to help you get inside alright?"
"O...Okay."