Natalie flipped through the pages in her book. She wasn't actually reading it, she was using it as a distraction to try to push out the memory of a few days ago. Unfortunately for her, the memory stayed right in the front of her mind.

A tiny dark splotch appeared on the page in front of her. And then another. And another. Natalie suddenly realized she was crying. She never cried. But what else do you do when life crashes? When you know not even God was on your side?

Someone knocked at the door. "Nat?" her dad's voice floated in through the door. Slowly, he opened the door. "You okay?"

"Don't call me Nat," Natalie replied. Pet names were Dan's way of trying to be comforting, to make her feel like everything was okay, even though it would never be. Not for Natalie.

"Look, I'm sorry, you know your mother-" he reached his hand out, but Natalie swatted it away.

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Really, I'm sorry, I can't control what happens to your mother-" he said, but Natalie knew he was lying. He wasn't sorry.

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Dad. Maybe it did before. Maybe you just thought we could hug and everything would be a-okay. But not this time. I was fine before, when Mom wouldn't remember it was my birthday. I already know she doesn't love me. But I hoped that at least a little, you would care," she snapped.

"I do care, it's just that, it's so hard sometimes, dealing with your mother," Dan said in a way that tried to be gentle and comforting. But Natalie had gone far beyond being able to be comforted.

"Do you, Dad? Do you really care? Then how come it was my thirteenth birthday and no one even said anything? Thirteen. You only become a teenager once. And you missed it," Natalie hissed, trying not to cry.

Dan's face was expressionless. "I got you something," he said, and left the room. Natalie bitterly wiped the tears from her eyes as she waited to see what her Dad had gotten for her this time to try to make things better.

A tiny gray kitten padded into the room. It had a red ribbon tied around it's neck. It mewled quietly, and Natalie had to admit it was adorable.

"Happy birthday," Dan said quietly. My birthday was three days ago, Natalie wanted to say.

But for now, she would accept his peace offering.

A/N: What? No HenNat fluff? Not today! I tried to cut back. Anyway, I don't like begging for reviews, but I'd really appreciate if you did, because I'm running out of ideas for what to write! Bye!