*~ I Don't Love You, I Can't Love You ~*
*~ Chapter 37 ~*
*~ Great Start To The Day ~*

She was still half asleep when it occurred to her.

"It's...my..." she mumbled in her sleep and then shot up wide wake in the next second, "It's my birthday!" she cried happily and turned to get out of bed and realised that Marley was sat next to her. She almost screamed, "Marley! What are you doing in my bed?"

"Technically, I'm not in your bed, I'm on top of it," Marley corrected wishing that he actually had been in the bed with her and went on to explain, "And I was keeping watching all night. Remember, I told you that you were safe with me after that nightmare. Once you fell asleep again I put you back in to bed and decided to stay in case you woke again."

Suddenly a non-too-friendly thought occurred to her and she panicked as she asked, "You didn't, y'know...do anything...did you?"

His face actually blew up red then and he stuttered, "N-no! Of course not! I would ever take advantage of a girl when she's sleeping! Uma-chan, you need to trust me more, geez," he looked away, across to the other side of the room blushing furiously.

Uma smiled. She had never seen someone her age to get so flustered over that subject, especially a boy. Since it embarrassed him even with only hinting she was convinced he was innocent and had behaved like a gentleman all night.

She leaned over to him and when he turned back to her she was inches from his face. She kissed his nose and said, "Thank you for watching over me," before he could pull her in or capture her in his arms she jumped up and ran out of the room shouting, "Time to start the day! Woo!"

Downstairs Keira was cooking a fry up for breakfast. Uma skipped in to the room and kissed her mother on the cheek, "Morning!" she sang and went to sit down at the table.

Keira chuckled as Marley teleported in and sat at the table opposite Uma, "Morning you two! Happy Birthday, darling."

Uma smiled excitedly as Keira came over and placed a plate down in front of her filled with bacon, fried eggs and sausages, "Thank you!"

Marley stared at the food and heard his stomach involuntarily growl, "Oh dear," he mumbled and the girls giggled.

A first he was sceptical of all this earth human food but he had gotten used to it and he really enjoyed it now. Not that Keira would let him go hungry if he didn't - he knew full well that she would hold him down and force him if she had to. The thought made smile as Uma began to dig in and Keira returned to the stove.

"No worries, Marley, making yours now, love," Keira told him.

"Thanks," he said and then asked, "You never told me it was her birthday today, you said it was next week and that you were -"

"AH!" Keira shrieked, stopping him from spoiling the surprise party.

Uma stared at both of them suspiciously as she ate a piece of bacon.

"Sorry, guys," Keira cried out making up an excuse for the outburst, "Burnt my thumb. Bloody oil spitting every where."

"Want me to get a plaster for you?" Uma asked and got up.

"No, you eat up. Marley can get one for me," Keira said and pointed to a cupboard, "They're in there."

So Marley rose from his chair, quickly found a band aid from the cupboard and came to stand beside Keira, holding it out for her, "Here."

"The party is a secret," she whispered and then winked.

"Right, sorry," he nodded.

She raised her voice again over the dull music on the radio, "Thank you, dear. Now, you sit down yours is just about ready."

"Happy Birthday, Uma-chan," Marley finally remembered to say after he sat down opposite her again.

She smiled at him and nodded in acknowledgment, as her mouth was rather occupied at the moment. He chuckled at the sight of her, "So you're enjoying that, I see."

She nodded, swallowed and then laughed as well, "It's delicious! Wait until you get yours. You'll be eating it just as messily as I am!"

"Well then I can't wait," he replied with a lop-sided smile.

"So, we're all agreed my cooking is the best in the world?" Keira asked as she placed the plate down in front of Marley.

"Yes!" Marley and Uma cheered, and the three of the laughed.

Uma was happy, this was a great start to the day.

Oh, dear...short chapter is short! Whoops!

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