Sera's POV

Everybody was staring... I felt uncomfortable with all the looks... But I couldn't control it. Walter and Ava soon came to me, while Derek was still lost playing with Clarissa. Both seemed to be getting heavier, and for the first time, I couldn't lift Walter up past my knees. He was heavier than I last remember him.

'You're growing up so fast little guy!' I joked while I let them drag me to the couch.

'Nowww! I'm not a wittle guy!'

'Walter, you have to learn those 'l' sounds.' I replied as I lifted him off slowly, with a lot of effort onto my lap, when we went to the couch.

'…but… I've been twying!'

'… and also those 'r' sounds Walter.' I replied as I removed his hair from his eyes. 'Say this… Little Lucy likes lots of lollipops to lick.'

'Wittle Lucy likes wots of lollipop to wick.' He replied. I smiled at his replay. He managed to get some of the 'L' but not all. It was cute seeing him to try.

'Tell us another one Sera!' Ava replied, while she sat on Clarissa.

'Mhm… Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.'

'Wound and round the rugged wrocks the wragged rascal ran.' All of them said in unison. Both Clarissa and I laughed at their response. They were kids, and once, we all were like them… innocent and only fun. Not worrying about the future… only about the current things they are doing. They live in the present not in the future.

'Sera…' Derek said.

'Yes honey?'

'Will you be my girlfriend?' He asked as usual.

'Didn't you have another girl at school?' I asked amused.

'Well… yes… but she wanted me to share my sweets with her, and I didn't want to. We are not friends.'

'Derek, you should share what you have…' I replied. 'In the future, you may want someone to share with you, and they will share with you only if they remember that you were kind to them. You may find people willing to help you no matter what… but those people are very rare today Derek.'

'What is 'rare' Sera?' Ava asked.

'It's how they eat meat!' Walter replied. 'My mum always orders her meat medium to ware!' He replied. Again, both Clarissa and I laughed. I expected something else, but not this… Walter was a true observer… just like his father.

'Walter, that is another kind of 'rare'…' I smiled, while Clarissa took over.

'Rare means when you won't be able to find something that doesn't occur often…' She complied. 'For example, I will tickle you Ava…' She started while she tickled her sister. '…but I won't do this every time, so that you won't get used to tickling…'

'Stop it Clarissa!' Ava replied while laughing.

'Sewa, I'm thirsty…' Walter whined.

'I'll go get you something to drink… ok?' I smiled, while I sat him down gently. I couldn't feel my legs, they were numb from Walter's weight, but finally the blood flow returned, and I could feel them again. 'You guys want something to drink?' I asked, while all of them nodded.

'You Clarissa?'

'Some wine would be fine Sera.' She smiled while I made my way to the kitchen.

John's POV

I overlooked my two sons from the corner of my eye, and realized how much she struggled to lift Walter up… He weighs as much as little as 45 pounds. Even Derek carries him around at home. I had to get her alone for a second to talk to her…

Soon I realized that she was making her way to the kitchen. I decided to take my chance.

'I'll be right back…' I told Rhian before I made my move.

I went to the kitchen and stayed a couple of meters away from her. Trying to see what she was about to do. She stopped to halt immediately as she saw the set table. It was like a ghost was in front of her that stopped her, but she soon composed herself, and went to her ordeal.

Sera's POV

It was going to be a long hard night. Everybody was there… I couldn't just ditch as usual… but desperate situations call for desperate measures… I had to take out all my armor to protect myself.

I decided to continue going to my chore. I found the soft drink bottles, and they were still closed. Guess all adults had alcohol. I prepared the glasses and tried opening one of them, but soon was joined.

'Hey…' Someone said, while I turned around, looking back at Flynn.

'Geez! You scared me!' I replied while I turned back to my chore.

'Sorry… didn't mean too…' He replied while he opened some liquor and started making his own drink, while he noticed me struggling with opening the bottle. 'You need help with that?'

'No…' I replied. '… I can do it.'

'You know Sera, there is no shame in asking for help at times.'

'I can do it Flynn…' I replied again.

'We're back to the surname?' He asked while he caught my bottle before it hit the ground.

'Sorry… I didn't mean…'

'No worries Sera…' He smiled, while he handed me the open bottle of coke. 'Here.'

'Thanks…' I smiled, while I took it for his hands.

'You stopped coming to therapy… why?' He asked while he mended to his drink.

'Um… I… I've been busy with school. You know… I had to catch up with everything I've lost, and now MCAT's are behind the door.'

'Oh… I see…' He replied while I finished the 4 glasses.

'I'll better get back…' I started while I tried holding the 4 glasses, but soon felt two strong arms on my shoulder.

'Sera, you don't have to be like this…'

'Fl… John… I'm fine… I promise…' I smiled.

'Ok… I'll help you out with those.' He continued as he took two glasses from my hand while holding his liquor in the other hand.

Soon it was time for dinner. Everybody took his seat. As usual, I took my seat beside my dad, and my mother on his other side. Grandma and Grandpa took their seats opposite to my parents along with Gail, while Walter, Derek, Ava and Clarissa, were beside me, joined by Uncle Elliot and Aunt Kate. On the other hand, John and Rhian took their seats opposite to me.

I felt uncomfortable with all the hassle around. It was harder to concentrate… all the talking… all the looks… I just wanted to melt and disappear and not exist anymore… Soon the dishes were served, and everybody dug in. I could see my father looking at me at times, and I could see his hand twitching, along with his pursed lips.

Christian's POV

She kept cutting her dish into smaller pieces… until it couldn't even be recognized as food, but only as a paste. It scared me what she was doing with her fork. She was lost in her own world, full of control… full of thoughts. I couldn't take it anymore… I had to do something.

I went forward to her ear and whispered. 'Sera… will you please eat?' I hissed.

I saw her tense up, and it hurt seeing her afraid of me. I'm her father… she's supposed to feel safe with me… but instead, fear crept all across her face, but she soon recovered. I saw her take one little bite of her beans. She kept cutting her food, but soon dinner finished, and she was the first one to go to the bathroom.

We had to talk to her that night.

After all guests left, and we were left to our confines, we started clearing up. We all helped Gail getting all cutlery in the dish washer, and as she went to bed, it was time that both Ana and I intervened.

'Sera, we need to talk…' Ana started… 'Please sit…'

'Mum… I'm tired…'

'I know sweet heart… It's not going to take long.' She said again.

'What is going on?' I asked as I took a seat in front of her. 'Why are you doing this to yourself?'

'What do you mean?' She asked, not seeming to know what we are talking about.

'There must be something wrong…something bothering you…and if you tell us what it is we can help you…' Ana suggested.

'I don't know what it is…' She replied again while she rested her back to the chair.

'You're hurting yourself.' Ana continued.

'I know… I know mum…'

'I'm not going to put up with this young lady… it's got to stop…' I urged.

'Ok… I know.'

'We have to hear from you that you're going to start to eat!' I said again.

'Dad, I do eat…'

'You don't eat enough to feed a mouse… you have to eat normally, like a normal person…' Ana confronted.

'Alright… I will… I will…'

'You mean that? I want your word on this!' Ana insisted again.

'I mean it mum… I didn't know that I was worrying you guys this much… Please you've got to believe me… everything is going to be ok… I promise…'

'Ok…'

'Can I be excused now? I'm very tired.' She asked again almost scared of us.

'Yeah…'

'Thank you…' she replied while she made her way to her room.

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