Winters in the orphanage were some of Alex's favorite childhood memories. She wasn't adopted until she was nearing eight, so she could remember cold winter days in the snow. Her favorite type was packing. The powdery blanket meant little to nothing to her. 

She could remember all the forts and snowball fights she'd have with Laurance. There were plenty of hands to help out and reap the benefits. 

The inside of the orphanage would be warm from fire, and a warm meal would be ready for them. She could recall their rosy skin and chilled fingers. There was little care during this time. 

She missed it. 

“We'd skate around in our boots on the ice,” Alex says, looking off at the frozen pond in bittersweet remembrance. “I wasn't always good at it. I'd tumble quite a bit, but Laurance was always there when I needed help up. As I got older, I didn't need his guidance anymore. Though, he didn't want to play with someone as young as I was either.” 

Winters in Meteli were different than they were in O'Khasis. Vylad had the company of his siblings. They would play by themselves outside on their grounds, soaking in the privacy. When Zane refused to play, it would only become Garroth and the twins. Soon enough, they all stopped. 

“It was always unfair when I was little,” Vylad admitted. “It was always Kandi and I versus our brothers. Our mother insisted we stopped playing games in teams because of it. Garroth was always good at whatever we did, and Kandi complained that she was cold. Though, I remember being huddled together in front of the fire. Blankets and cups of tea. . .”

Vylad was going to enter a new decade of his life. His twentieth birthday would be in mere days, but he hadn't mentioned a word. It was like he didn't care.

Alex places her gloved hand over Vylad's. For late December, there wasn't as much snow as there should've been. That didn't mean it wasn't any less freezing in temperature. 

Kandi was being thrown a party. It would've been inside the barn. It was easier to keep it warm there rather than in the square. Kiki didn't have many animals either, so there was plenty of room. 

She wondered if it made the twins sad. Another birthday would go by without their other half. Kandi had so many people to celebrate with. But Vylad. . . 

“What were birthdays like growing up?” 

Vylad furrows his eyebrows. His eyes glance towards their touching hands but decides to ignore it. “Mom always made sure she had a cake made and decorated. Kandi and I both agreed on chocolate each year. It was her best cake. We would have a small celebration. When I was younger, I remember Garte would take that day off to celebrate with us. As I got older, this wasn't the case. He was around for dinner, but he still had other duties to attend to. No matter what, mom was always there. She always tried to make it the most enjoyable day there ever was.” 

“What do you do now?”

Kandi has had Garroth until Garroth left. She eventually left too, following after him. Vylad had been alone for quite some time. 

“I don't celebrate. Twenty is just another number to me. I usually spend the day alone.” 

Alex frowns at the thought. She thought that no one should be alone on their birthday. She imagined that he'd watch silently from afar, seeing Kandi enjoy her day with those that care about her. Her heart pangs at the thought. 

She squeezes his hand. “You won't be alone this time.” 

“That's silly. You should spend that day with Kandi.” 

“Why would I spend that day with only Kandi? It's your birthday too.”

“I'm used to being alone.” 

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Kawaii~Chan originally planned on baking a vanilla cake. It gave an elegant essence that she liked and reminded her of Kandi. She could decorate it in any way she chose. 

She didn't end up making a vanilla cake. 

“I think Kawaii~Chan went overboard with the size,” Kandi says, placing a fork through the moist chocolate. “There's far too much for me alone.” 

Alex smiles softly, glancing towards the remaining portion. “I'll take a slice or two with me when I leave.” 

“Thank you. I haven't had a cake like this in a few years. It reminds me of my birthdays in O'Khasis with. . .” 

Alex's eyes lock with Kandi’s. She wanted to blurt out to her that Vylad was alive, but she couldn't. She promised Vylad that a while ago. 

She places her hand on her shoulder, trying to be reassuring. “You still have Garroth.” 

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Vylad could hear the joyous occasion from the barn. He saw the candle lights, and he heard the laughter. This wasn't the first time he watched from afar, living vicariously through others. Even if he couldn't be there physically, he was there mentally for his family. 

Footsteps crunching in the snow cause him to become distracted. It was dark out, but he only knew of one person who was foolish enough to come outside at this hour. 

“I was hoping you'd be here,” she says, handing a plate to him. “Happy birthday.”