Author's note: Thank you to Rasha007, Sam0728, NotMarge, NicoleR85, KEZZ 1, Torchwhovian, partygirl9, and Jinxofthe2ndLaw for your reviews. I'm glad you guys liked that chapter, because it's one of my favorites! Torchwhovian, I had to look up what a brotp is, but now that I know I take that as a serious compliment. It means I'm doing something right with these OCs!

Happy Birthday, Zoey

The next few hours were a bit of a whirlwind. After I recovered myself and paid for the necklace, I found a drugstore and spent another half an hour sitting on the floor in the card aisle patiently waiting for Olivia to read through every single card until she found the one she wanted to give to Zoey. Then we stopped by the grocery store to pick up cake mix and chocolate frosting, which Olivia was suspiciously excited about.

"Can I lick the bowl?" she asked, practically bouncing up and down as we stood in the checkout line. "Please?"

Not unless I want your dorm monitor to kill me. You're too hyper as it is.

"We'll see," I reluctantly replied.

We made it back to the Institute in time for dinner, and then headed to the kitchen when the meal was over. Together we baked and frosted the cake by bed time- though it seemed like Olivia sneaked half the frosting into her mouth while I wasn't looking, and that was after I let her lick the leftover batter from the bowl. She'd pleaded and pouted until I gave in, grumbling about my lack of willpower once more.

Thankfully she burned off her sugar high while we focused on getting a picture of her for Zoey's locket, talking a mile a minute and exploring while I developed the tiny photograph in the school's dark room.

"Why don't we put a picture of you in the necklace too, Mr. Hank?" Olivia asked while I worked.

I hadn't suggested it because I felt giving Zoey a necklace with a picture of me inside was very presumptuous. Though the very thought filled me with a cold, suffocating dread, our relationship could possibly not work out.

But Zoey's love for Olivia was easy and uncomplicated, almost like a mother's love for a child. Unconditional, a permanent bond that couldn't be broken. Olivia's picture would always belong in this locket.

Plus, there was also the fact that I avoided cameras like the bubonic plague.

"She can put my picture in there if she wants to, ok?" I told Olivia, trying to be diplomatic.

After the way Olivia expressed the hope that I would be her uncle someday, I definitely didn't want to speak of breaking up with her aunt. I honestly didn't even want to think about it.

"Ok," Olivia agreed, examining a bottle of p-aminophenol.

"Please don't touch that. If it gets in your mouth it will make you sick."

Going from one thing to another. I hope that frosting wears off soon.

"I think Auntie will want to go to the zoo today," Olivia announced the next morning while we were in the car on our way to Zoey's apartment.

I couldn't hide my amusement. "It sounds like you want to go to the zoo."

She pouted, crossing her arms. "No, I think she will," Olivia retorted in her chirpy bird voice. "We were supposed to go last year, but Grandpa was sick and Auntie wanted to spend her birthday with him."

Because she knew it was the last birthday she'd have with her father...

For the first time since Olivia approached me for help I felt a tremor of uncertainty.

Maybe Zoey had purposely not told me that July 13th was her birthday because she didn't want to celebrate it this year. I could see Billy and Marceline agreeing to keep me in the dark in that regard, out of respect for her feelings.

But Olivia? No one would think to warn Olivia- she was too young. They probably thought she wouldn't remember Zoey's birthday in the first place.

At this point we were parked in front of Zoey's apartment building, but I didn't move. I was staring blankly out the windshield, completely lost in thought.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Maybe she just wants to be alone today.

Olivia poked me impatiently in the arm. "Come on, Mr. Hank."

I didn't know how to tell her this might be a mistake. I couldn't. Olivia had done everything with the best intentions, and I couldn't break her heart by ruining her surprise. If Zoey was upset, I'd completely take the fall for this.

"Sorry," I told Olivia. "Let's go."

I helped the little girl out of the car, then headed upstairs. She carried the present and card, and I carried the cake. Olivia knocked on Zoey's door. I held my breath, full of trepidation.

Here goes.

Zoey opened the door, saw us standing there, and froze- except for her mouth, which dropped open in surprise. Her eyes were red-rimmed and a little puffy, like she'd been crying.

Uh oh. Worse than I thought.

"Happy birthday, Auntie!" Olivia crowed.

"Happy birthday," I murmured apologetically.

Zoey recovered quickly, finding a smile for us both. "Oh, you remembered! Thank you!" she said brightly, leaning down to hug Olivia. "Come in."

I stepped inside, going to the kitchen to set down the cake while Olivia ran into the living room looking for Zoey's cats to say hello.

Zoey followed me into the kitchen and stood there twisting her hands, giving off an air of contrition and awkwardness. Like she'd been caught in some wrong-doing.

I felt about the same at the moment, like I'd rudely intruded on a day she wanted some privacy. Olivia was my only defense.

"I'm sorry," we both blurted out at the same time- quietly, so Olivia wouldn't hear.

We gave each other wan smiles for being on the same wavelength again.

"Can I go first?" Zoey whispered.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you today was my birthday," she said softly, stepping closer. "I even asked Billy and Marcy not to tell you because I- I-"

"Your dad?" I asked gently.

She nodded, looking very vulnerable. "Last year he was dying and I wanted to look at my childhood photo albums today. I don't want to remember how he was when he was sick, not on my birthday. I felt... I felt like it would be too hard to pretend not to be sad today."

"You don't have to pretend with me," I told her gently. "But I understand. I really do."

Zoey looked down at her hands, trying to compose herself. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry we're intruding," I said, taking my turn to apologize. "It didn't click for me why you didn't say anything until we were already here. Livie asked me for help Thursday night, and she worked so hard, I couldn't tell her-"

Olivia appeared at the entrance of the kitchen, cutting off my explanation.

"Can we have cake now?"

Zoey looked at the clock and gave me a mischievous grin. "It's 9:45 in the morning. I'd say it's cake time," she announced.

And I knew then that all was forgiven.

Olivia insisted that we sing "Happy Birthday," much to Zoey's chagrin.

She hid her face while we sang- Olivia in a high, childish soprano, and me in a tuneless tenor. In the light of the candles, Zoey's flushed forehead was almost as red as her hair. I can't say I blamed her for trying to hide from our terrible serenade.

Her eyes met mine right before she blew out the candles, a fresh blush coming to her cheeks.

Is your wish about me? If only I could ask, so I could try to make it come true.

We settled down to eat at the dining room table. It was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, an Olivia-approved concoction.

"This is delicious," Zoey remarked. "Who made it?"

"Mr. Hank baked the cake, and I did the frosting," Olivia replied proudly.

"Did?" More like ate.

"Hank bakes?"

I pursed my lips, feeling embarrassed. "When the occasion calls."

Zoey giggled. "No wonder you couldn't come over last night. It sounds like you had quite a busy day."

"Uh huh. We went to the mall and then we went to the drugstore and then the grocery store and we baked your cake and finished your present," Olivia explained proudly. "Can you open it now?"

"Sure," Zoey agreed.

Olivia hopped down from her chair to go grab the present from the living room. While she was gone I caught Zoey gazing at me with a rather shy smile gracing her lips.

"What?" I asked, suddenly hit by a wave of self-consciousness.

Do I have frosting on my face?

Her mysterious grin got even wider as she blushed. "Nothing."

I was going to press her on it, but Olivia came back at that moment. She presented the gift with a little flourish.

"You guys didn't have to get me anything," Zoey murmured, cradling the box in her hands.

"We wanted to," I assured her.

"It's from both of us. Open it!" Olivia urged, doing an anxious little dance.

Zoey laughed and shook her head as she finally opened the gift. She gasped when she saw the locket.

"Oh, it's beautiful!"

"Look inside," Olivia told her. As Zoey began to open the clasp, the little girl's impatience got the better of her. "It's me!"

My stars and garters. No more cake for you, Livie.

Tears started in Zoey's eyes. Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for.

"It's perfect," she whispered.

Oh thank goodness.

"Hank, could you help me put it on?"

"Of course."

After I helped her put the locket on, Zoey drew both Olivia and myself into a tight embrace. A three-way hug of sorts.

"Thank you both so much," she murmured, kissing each of us. "I'm glad you came over and surprised me. You're my two favorite people in the entire world, you know. I love you both."

Both? She loves us both!

"Grandpa wouldn't want you to be sad on your birthday, Auntie," Olivia said sincerely.

I immediately had the suspicion she'd heard her aunt's thoughts and felt a pang that we couldn't hide the burden of Zoey's grief from her niece. In many ways the little girl was growing up much too fast because of her telepathy.

"He'd want you to let your favorite people take you to the zoo," she concluded, completely serious.

Zoey burst into laughter, the uncontrollable kind where tears come to your eyes and your stomach hurts. I couldn't help joining in, cracking up over Olivia's audacity.

"Ok, Livie. Let's go to the zoo," Zoey agreed.

Sometimes being with the people you love is the best cure for what ails you. You don't have to pretend to be happy for them. They make you feel that way, all on their own.