Its been a month since she moved in with Kathan and Mark. She was working on an assignment when Alana walked in.
"Hey Lana", Sabrina said.
"Someone's here for you aunt Sabrina", she said.
Sabrina stood and Kaye was talking to Mike in the living room. He waved.
"Hey, he decided to stop by", Kaye said.
"Hey Mike", Sabrina said.
"Hey, Alana, lets go get lunch started", Kaye said, taking her daughter by the shoulders and walking her into the kitchen.
Mike stepped closer to Sabrina.
"So I hear your birthday is coming up. I thought, maybe since your single you would like to go to dinner with me? I waited a whole month, you have no idea how hard that was", Mike said smiling.
Sabrina smiled.
"I just don't plan on dating for a bit, a long bit", Sabrina said.
"Why?", he asked.
"I still love him and this was never about dating other people, I did this to just, explore", Sabrina said.
"Explore what?", he asked.
"College life. You were right, I couldn't do anything without letting him know. It felt so weird going out and he didn't come with me. I think I just need to be alone for a bit", Sabrina said.
Mike nodded.
"Well then how about we go out as friends? Come on, its to celebrate your birthday", he said.
She smiled and nodded.
"Sounds good", she said.
Seth got home from work and sighed. He missed Sabrina and wanted her home, but he knew he had to let her come to him. He might have ended things, but when she was ready, he hoped she would go to find him.
He noticed the date on his phone and smiled. Today was her birthday. He walked into the room and grabbed the small bag in his closet. He grabbed his car keys and drove to Mark and Kathan's house. Knocking on the front door, Kaye opened it. Her smiled slipped.
"Hey Seth", she said.
"Hi, I know she probably doesn't want to see me, but its her birthday and well, I just wanted to give her this", he said, holding up the small gift bag.
Kathan smiled.
"Is she here or still at school?", Seth asked.
"Um", Kaye didn't know what to say.
Alana ran to the door and opened it more.
"Hi uncle Seth", the little girl said.
"Hi sweetie, look at you, you've gotten so big", Seth said, lifting Alana into his arms.
"Hey man, come on in", Mark said from inside.
Kathan gave Mark a look. She closed the door after Seth walked in with Alana.
"I just came to give Sabrina her birthday gift", Seth said.
Mark sighed and looked at Kaye. Seth looked between them.
"What's wrong?", he asked.
"Aunt Sabrina went out on a date with Mike for her birthday. She's not here", Alana said.
"Oh", Seth said.
Seth set Alana down and she ran to her room. He didn't know what to do or say. She was single and allowed to do as she pleased.
"So um, if you can just give her this and, I should", Seth didn't know what to say.
He handed the gift to Kaye as he opened the door to walk out.
"Hey man, maybe we can grab a beer or tomorrow we can", Seth stopped Mark.
"No, I'm good.", Seth said.
"Come on, you need to get out and talk", Mark said.
Seth chuckled.
"Since when do you care? Its been a month and you haven't even texted to see how I am. Clearly I know where you stand in all this. I'll see you around, maybe", Seth said.
He left their house and drove home. Mark knew Seth was right. He felt terrible for at least not checking in on him.
"I feel so bad", Kaye said.
"Me too. I don't want him thinking that I picked Sabrina's side. I didn't, we didn't", Mark said.
"We both know why she wanted to end things, we know he understands it. He's right though, we should have checked in on him", Kathan said.
Mark nodded.
"I thought Brina said this wasn't a date, but a birthday dinner with friends", Mark said.
"It is just a birthday dinner, I was going to go now", Kaye said.
Dean kissed Serena and handed her the gift bag.
"Happy Birthday my love", he said.
She smiled and opened the bag. Pulling out a necklace box. She opened it and gasped.
"Oh my god, this is beautiful Dean", she said.
He helped her put it on. It had her birth stone beside his.
"I was hoping you would like it", he said.
She turned to look at him and kissed him.
"We have dinner reservations with Nala and Roman at eight", Dean said.
Serena nodded.
"I texted your sister happy birthday, but I got no reply back. I hope she's not mad at me for telling Seth.", Dean said.
Serena knew Dean didn't want to come between her and her sister.
"She probably doesn't want Seth getting mad at you for not taking sides you know", Serena said.
Dean nodded. His phone started ringing.
"Speaking of Seth", Dean said, showing her his phone.
She smiled and walked into their bedroom to get ready for dinner.
"Hey Seth, what's up?", Dean said answering.
"Nothing much, just calling to say happy birthday to your girl", Seth said.
Dean smiled and called for Rena. She sat beside him as he handed her his phone.
"Hey Seth", she said.
"Hey, happy birthday Rena", Seth said.
"Thank you. You should have come down this weekend, we could have taken you to a couple of our favorite restaurants", Serena said.
"Hopefully in a few weeks. The heads of all your dad's publishing companies are meeting in New York soon. I also want to see the twins", Seth said.
"Sounds like a plan. Thank you again for calling, it was nice to hear from you. I have to go and get ready though. If you ever need anything Seth, Dean and I are here for you", Serena said.
"I know, thank you Rena", Seth said.
Serena handed Dean back his phone and went to shower. Seth finally told Dean what happened today at Mark and Kaye's. Dean shook his head. He and his friends had talked and decided not to take sides. To make sure they all checked in on both of them. Clearly by what Seth said, Mark and Kaye haven't.
"Listen man, I don't want to put you and Serena in this. I just needed to talk to someone", Seth said.
"Totally understandable. Like Rena said, we are here for you. Our doors are always open to you", Dean said to him.
That meant a lot to Seth.
"Have fun tonight", Seth said.
Dean set his phone down and walked into his bedroom. Grabbing his outfit for tonight. Serena noticed the look on Dean's face.
"Hey, you ok?", she asked him.
He looked over at her. He didn't know if he should tell her about what Seth said.
"Dean, what's wrong?", Serena asked.
Dean sighed and told her everything. He's never kept anything from her.
"What?", Serena practically shouted.
Dean had just finished telling her what Seth told him about Sabrina going out on a date with some guy named Mike.
"She said she wanted to end things for herself, to find whatever she felt she needed. She said she wasn't going to date anyone else because she couldn't.", Serena said, pacing in front of Dean.
Dean nodded.
"Has Mark told you anything? How is Seth?", Serena asked.
"That's another topic.", Dean said.
"What?", Serena asked, sitting beside him.
"Seth let me know that Mark hasn't checked on him, not even a text. Look, I know she's your sister and Mark probably doesn't want to piss off Kaye by checking on Seth, but he needs a friend", Dean said.
Serena took Dean's hand.
"I totally understand, you're right. We didn't pick sides, we've checked on both of them. Right now, I'm a little pissed at my sister for not telling me she was dating", Serena said.
Dean nodded.
"You should go with Nala to Tennessee this weekend. She's taking the twins to Kathan and Mark", Serena said.
Dean nodded.
"Sounds good", Dean said.
Sabrina got home with Kaye from her birthday dinner. Mark smiled.
"How was it?", he asked.
"The food was really good", Sabrina said.
Mark could tell something was bothering her. He knew Kaye must have told her about Seth. Truth was, Sabrina was missing Seth. She thought about him the entire time during dinner.
"He'll get over it Sabrina. Seth just needs to get use to it", Mark said.
She was confused. She looked from him to Kaye.
"What are you talking about?", Sabrina asked.
Mark looked at Kaye.
"I haven't told her yet", Kaye said.
Mark nodded. Sabrina looked at her friend.
"Told me what?", Sabrina asked.
"Seth stopped by to drop off your birthday gift. Alana told him you went out to dinner with Mike and he was going to leave. Mark told him they should go out for drinks and he declined, accused us of taking your side instead of being mutual", Kaye said.
Sabrina sighed.
"I'm sorry. If I made either of you feel like you couldn't see him or talk to him. Mark, he's your friend and if me living here is an issue, just let me know", Sabrina said.
"Of course its not Brina. This was my fault, you're right, he's my friend and I should have checked in on him. He would have done that for me", Mark said.
Sabrina nodded.
"His gift is on your bed", Kaye said.
Sabrina nodded. She walked to her room and saw the small gift bag. She sat down and opened it, pulling out the small box. She opened it and a charm bracelet sat inside. She smiled and pulled it out. Each charm had something to do with their time together.
"That's pretty aunt Sabrina", Alana said, climbing onto her bed.
"Its from uncle Seth", Sabrina said.
Nala and Roman arrived to pick up Dean to head to the airport.
"My favorite twins", Dean said, leaning down and kissing their cheeks.
Nala smiled.
"Thanks again Dean for going with her. She doesn't like to admit it, but she does need help getting both car seats and her bags", Roman said.
Nala nudged him.
"Anytime", Dean said, tickling Maureen.
"So you are going to be staying with Seth?", Nala asked.
Dean nodded.
"Yeah. I can drop you off at Mark and Kaye's and then pick you up when you're ready", Dean said.
Roman and Nala looked at each other.
"You aren't going to visit with Mark?", Nala asked.
Dean chuckled.
"Not after what he did to Seth", Dean said.
"What did he do?", Roman asked confused.
He had spoken to Mark the other day about what time Nala and the twins would get there. Mark didn't say anything to him. Serena told them everything and Nala shook her head.
"That's messed up. Seth has no one in Tennessee, but Mark. I thought we all agreed not to pick sides", Nala said.
"That's what I said", Dean said.
Nala looked at Dean.
"You think he would mind if the twins and I stayed with him? I'm sorry Rena, I know she's your sister, but Seth not having anyone, I just can't leave him alone", Nala said.
"Not mad at you at all.", Serena said.
"Maybe we shouldn't all start picking sides either. I mean, maybe Seth read the signals wrong or something. I'll talk to Mark", Roman stopped when he saw the look on Nala's face.
"Or not", Dean said.
Roman sighed.