Even though Sollux's bandages hadn't come off, he still got to blow out his birthday cake candles and make a wish. The candles just weren't lit. Not that it really mattered; if they'd been lit, he would have missed, or burned his stupid, clumsy face.

He didn't know what to wish for. It was childish to put so much faith in a stick of wax and the one year anniversary of his staying alive, but he'd always believed in wishes. There was a certain powerful tug of wishing for something, like when momentous music plays in the background of a movie, signaling that that moment is pivotal, that it triggers something amazing, regardless of whether it's good or bad. It signaled hope, something he found himself lacking in the weeks after the accident.

In the end, he chose to wish for two wishes next year. The absence of his father was still strong, and he was glad his eyes wouldn't let him cry, even through all the times he felt like it: Mituna's awkward hug, the Maryam sisters' kisses on his cheek, and the piece of cake Aunt Rosa handed him. It was honey-flavored with a thick layer of buttercream frosting. Dad always loved honey cake, even when his doctor said he should lay off of it. Every bite stuck in Sollux's throat for a moment, but the sweetness fought valiantly against the bitterness.

They all had cake, even the skittish male nurse whose name was apparently Tavros. Kanaya was getting along famously with him. From what Sollux could tell, Mituna was eating cake ravenously, but smearing it all over his face in the process. Shit, he was glad he couldn't see his brother. That was just sad. It wasn't like he'd always looked up to his big brother, but someone he shared DNA suddenly not being able to do 90% of the things he always did with no problem...It was jarring and Sollux didn't know how to react, which meant he didn't really react at all. Not acknowledging it was sure to make it go away, obviously.

Presents were exclusively from the Maryams, with their generous hearts and wallets. The hospital's gift was letting the cake be eaten in the first place. There were stress balls (Mituna giggled at 'balls'), an ITunes gift card for a ridiculous amount of money, a fuckload of clothes unsurprisingly, several sci-fi books that made him lament the temporary inability of his eyes, and a new laptop. Shiny, and already filled with programs and his music, according to his cousins. Leave it to Auntie Rosa.

"Your father and I were planning this for a while," she murmured, "You complained about your old one often."

"Just two more months till I can see it," he joked bitterly. The one sarcastic thing he'd let himself say.

And god, did those two months pass slowly. All he seemed to do was listen to music and play with his stress balls (Mituna snickered every time he saw), and that was it. What else could he do? The only books on tape were boring as fuck, and he could only listen to so much of the Maryams' calm, proper English during fight scenes. He wanted his father's voice. He wanted his father around, with his big muscles and cheerful grin that got all the checkout ladies at the supermarket to flirt with him.

The closer it got to the bandage removal, the more Sollux could cry over his loss.

The day his bandages were removed, Auntie Rosa held his hand tightly, and he wondered if she was as worried as he that he might have robot eyes. She'd tried to describe what they were doing a couple of times, but the talk of cutting open what healthy eye was left made him sick to his stomach. It stung a little as they unwound the cloth and the new skin greeted air for the first time in months. He had to bite back a laugh as everyone inhaled deeply; Sollux felt like a contestant on a plastic surgery show. Everyone was eager for the reveal and his reaction.

It started slow, an eyelid opening once, than the other. Cautious blinking, and finally sight as the people in front of him sharpened into focus.

"Rosa, you cut your hair," he said simply, admiring the short crop she had now. She let out a choked laugh, and hugged him. He could feel how worried she'd been, trembling against his lean frame.

"We all got haircuts a few months ago," she said in almost a whisper into his mop of black hair.

"It looks nice."

"Sollux, would you like to see a mirror?" The doctor, whose name tag read as 'Scratch,' asked. This asshole. Bald as a pool cue, Sollux thought in spiteful pleasure. He'd pushed away all his hair follicles with the huge stick up his ass.

"Yeah, lemme see the damage," he found himself joking, and even smiled a little. God, it was good to see again. The mirror, obviously a cheap dollar store purchase at the last minute, was passed up hesitantly, and he peered in, his breath catching. Now he knew why everyone was so reluctant to hand it to him.

Gone were his mustard yellow eyes. In their place was one a deep blue, almost indigo, and the other a shocking red, red like the pencil dangling off Doctor Scratch's clipboard. His constant visitor, the lump in his throat, returned, and his dimly wondered why he was so sad as tears newly filled his freak eyes. He could see, right? He'd been almost normal again a few seconds ago.

Of course. He'd gotten those yellow eyes from his father, and his dad's reflection no longer faced him in the mirror.

"We've spent weeks organizing and redecorating the rooms," Kanaya said in her soothing voice. "We hope you like them."

The car hummed along over the black asphalt, and Sollux nodded noncommittally before turning back to stare out the window and unpause his music. Angry rock filled his eardrums, and the bass line vibrated in his toes. Perfect.

He'd tried for months not to think of moving to Aunt Rosa's, and now that the day was here, he missed the nightnight, pass-the-fuck-out drugs in the hospital. Sleeping through the move sounded more appealing every time one of the Maryams smiled graciously at him. Sollux felt sick. Although maybe that was because he'd been staring out the moving car window for so long.

Kanaya, Porrim, and Sollux had been squished into the backseat, while Mituna rode shotgun, and kept trying to stick his head out of the window like a dog. Rosa had let Mituna grow his hair out so it almost covered his eyes in an attempt to distract from the ugly, bulging veins on his forehead. Similarly, Sollux had vehemently refused anything more than a trim, hoping he could hide his red eye. He couldn't, and got more than enough stares from other patients when they left.

"Do you have heterochromia too?" a girl with one green and one light blue eye had asked him.

"No," He snapped, "I had to get mutant lab eyes because of a fucking car crash. My dad died, my brother has brain damage, and I have fucked-up irises. Aren't we lucky?" The girl was shocked into silence. "Any more questions?"

She shook her head.

Honestly, Sollux almost wanted to stay in his little room. He could joke with Tavros, who, before getting prosthetics, was in a wheelchair all the time. Tavros knew how it felt to get stared at. Awful.

"Almost there!" Aunt Rosa's voice was distantly audible over the shredding riffs from his headphones. The car turned onto a rocky road, through a gate, and that reminded Sollux of the house the Pevensies stayed at in Narnia movie. This one wasn't quite as big, but it was definitely bigger than the Captors' and Rosa's old one combined, and it looked grand with its brick walls. Sollux had never visited Rosa's California house before.

"Do the three of you stay here by yourselves?" he mumbled, transfixed by a fountain full of pennies. Full of wishes.

"Oh no!" Rosa chuckled merrily. "I stay with two of my girl friends from college, and their families. Dessie Leijon and Roxy Lalonde. Dessie has two sisters, Nepeta and Meulin, and Roxy stays with Dirk Strider and their daughter, Rose."

"They've got to get married eventually," Porrim giggled. "And when they do I have it all planned out."

"Hush," Rosa chided, "That's their decision."

"Sounds like a big, happy family," Sollux muttered darkly, but nobody seemed to realize. Eventually they skidded over the gravel to a stop, and a blonde woman in a bright pink pair of sweats ran out.

"Hi!" She shook Sollux's hand fervently the second he got out of the car. "I'm Roxy! I'm so sorry to hear what happened, but I hope you'll be happy with us!"

"...Thanks." he looked back at the fountain, then to the sky. I wish that the others won't be this enthusiastic.

Unfortunately, they were. All but Rose, the Dirkxy kid, and Dirk himself, who just sort of nodded at him. Sollux figured all his calm demeanor was matched by Roxy's vibrancy. All the Leijons were the same: tall girls with dark, curly hair, easy giggles, and an overexcited personality. They were laughably carbon copies of one another, the only difference being height. Expecting to keep them straight was going to be impossible.

"I'm afraid you and your brother are a bit outnumbered," the tallest Leijon (Dessie?) laughed.

"No kidding," Sollux replied. Three guys and eight girls. What a party. A party he never wanted, or planned to, attend, except for holidays with his dad.

There was that lump again. Were new eyes especially prone to crying?

"I can show you to your room," the small blonde girl said coolly. Another overly calm person. "I've noticed your expression."

"Rose?"

"Yes. Please follow me. You look like you're not prepared to handle all this boisterous estrogen."

"Kinda." This girl definitely took after her dad. Sollux followed her up a staircase and glanced at all the pictures. Leijons, Strilondes, Maryams, group shots, one-on-ones...Documentation further proving his 'big happy family' statement was everywhere. They all looked so close, and thanks to their wealth (were these fuckers all rich?), most of the pictures were taken at fancy places, restaurants, the Grand Canyon, beaches, New York City… Sollux found himself jealous. He'd never set foot on a beach. All pictures of his family were neatly packed in boxes, like all the rest of their old house. Courtesy of the Maryams, who didn't think it was necessary for the boys to pack all their stuff. They'd have to officially go through it all in the end.

Rose turned on a dime, and stopped in front of a dark wood door. A tiny, painted design decorated the border. No surprise. Porrim and Kanaya took after their fashion designer mom. Rose pushed the door open lightly, then walked off, leaving Sollux alone with his new room. Thank god for Rose Lalonde.

It was certainly big. A huge dresser, matching the dark wood of the door, rested in the left side of the room, kitty corner to what was probably a walk-in closet. Like he'd ever have that many clothes. A soft rug let his feet sink a few centimeters in as he looked around. The walls were a light blue and the carpet a sage green, making it feel like he was outside. The sooner he could cover those walls in posters, the better. Sollux preferred inside, thank you very much.

He flopped on the bed, which had his favorite yellow comforter spread skillfully on it. They must have scavenged that from the boxes, and Sollux buried his face in it gratefully. A whiff of his dad's cologne lingered, and tears rolled from his eyes, stinging like always. He had to be more appreciative towards the people in this house. He had to. Dad would want him too. Deep breaths Sol. Think reasonably. You'll be okay. His father's voice returned to him. Sollux breathed.

He had to get adjusted to living here sooner or later.

these chapters always seem shorter when I post them /: