Based of a concept from Tumblr, Mark and Cristina get Kieran a birthday cake because he has never had one before
Having been deprived of a childhood meant being deprived of many of the childhood staples many people took for granted. One such childhood staples was celebrating ones birthday and having a cake. Mark and Cristina had made the discovery that Kieran has never had this experience when they had been reminiscing their own birthday memories and realised Kieran had remained silent throughout out the entire conversation. "So what's the best thing that's ever happened to you on your birthday Kier?" Mark had asked, by way of bringing the faerie prince into the conversation. Cristina leant forward eagerly, wanting to hear what stories Kieran could tell them. "A Faerie prince must have a story or two to tell of Birthdays gone by" she added.
Kieran just seemed to curl in on himself, and scowl, clearly annoyed that the conversation on this particular topic had turned to him, and the other people in the conversation clearly wanted an answer. "He would...if he were favoured by his father and liked by his brothers. But alas I was not and I was sent away to the Wild Hunt as soon as he could be rid of me" Kieran replied coldly. He hadn't many good memories of his childhood to look back upon, not like Mark and Cristina and he was feeling somewhat jealous of the pair. Realising they had unintentionally touched a nerve, the conversation swiftly moved away from birthdays and the focus from Kieran.
The conversation may have moved on, but both Mark and Cristina thoughts had not. So much so, Mark found his way to Cristinas room to discuss the matter. "I feel awful. Imagine having never celebrating ones birthday. Imagine not having cake" Cristina said sadly. That's when Mark had an idea. An idea so fantastic he knew he would have no problem getting Cristina to agree. "Kierans birthday is a couple of days away. What do you say to making this one special for him? By the angel he deserves it" Mark said, and the way Cristinas face lit up, he knew she would join him on the matter. "I agree. On the condition that you do not bake a cake, we've already seen your um...lack of skills in the kitchen and I don't think Julian has quite forgiven or forgotten" she said and Mark was more than happy to accept the terms.
By the time Kierans birthday came round, Mark and Cristina had everything sorted. They had sneaked out to buy Kieran a cake, and after a lot of discussion, the went for a caterpillar cake because 1) it would remind Kieran of being amongst nature and 2) having a caterpillar cake was a necessity on one's birthday. Cristina had slipped out of the room to light the candles on the cake, whilst Mark kept Kieran talking, only to stop when Cristina walking in with the cake and joined in with a very enthusiastic version of "Happy birthday"
Once the song was over it was Cristina who went "blow the candles out Kieran. If you blow them all out in one go, you can make a wish" she said. Mark then added "but you can't tell us what you wished otherwise it will not come true". The confusion on Kierans face was obvious. "Why are there burning things on a giant creepy caterpillar" he asked. Mark smiled then, realising the fair folk had different traditions meaning that Kieran would need an explanation. "The burning things are candles. And the giant Caterpillar is a cake. You've never had one on your birthday so we decided to give you one" he said, and Kierans face softened slightly. "How will the blowing out of candles make my wish come true?" He asked. Cristina shrugged. "It's a nice thought I guess" she said. "Come on or you'll get wax on your cake" she then added, so Kieran did (all the candles in one blow). He wouldn't tell them he had wished he would have them by his side for the rest of their lives. It had been the best birthday Kieran Kingson had ever had.
