The date was June 6th 70 AW.
Or, put another way, it was Cinder's seventh birthday. The second birthday she had spent in my care.
Birthdays in Remnant were a big thing, at least for children. Birthday cake was still a thing here, and children typically got a lot more gifts on their birthday than they did at Year's End. Parties (or if you were wealthy, galas) were often held as the child got older. Although there were no fireworks, thankfully. The further away I can keep my Cinder away from the Atlesian proclivity for colourful explosives, the better. At least whilst she's still a child.
Our neighbours had delivered their gifts a couple of days back. Winston, the former SpecOp Agent that lived on one side of us, had got her books. The elderly Faunus had assisted in teaching her to read, and had been swift in giving her an appreciation for books (and comics, oddly enough), fiction or otherwise.
As for our neighbours on the other side, the particular group of students from when Cinder first moved in are still there (and refusing to talk about 'The Disaster of Third Year' aside from cryptic references). They had opted to get her a number of cuddly toys (Grimm, Cuddly Grimm.), along with candy from around the world.
Sugar-filled, energy-filled candies from around the world. Thanks guys, thanks sooo very much. Sugar Rush Cinder is exhausting, and Sugar Crash Cinder is concerning.
People from work had sent cards, along with a collection of smaller gifts for their 'Little Lady'. And even a few of the students we saw on a regular basis when we took our breaks had sent cards too.
It was early, Cinder was still asleep. I didn't have work today, Royce had been the best boss in history and sped my vacation request through the system, but I found myself in the kitchen before dawn anyway, the smell of baking wafting around, filling my apartment.
Cinder preferred simpler cakes. That wasn't to say she disliked more fancy cakes (after all, what child actually dislikes cake?), but her favourite was what amounted to a Victoria Sponge Cake. Two layers of light, sweetened sponge cake, with jam and buttercream sandwiched between them.
As it was her birthday, and as it was her favourite, I found myself making a basic sponge cake at four o'clock in the morning.
Yes, I am still in control of my life, thank you very much!
"Mmmmm!"
Cinder let out a contented sigh as she set her fork down after finishing her slice of cake. It was her birthday, and she was seven! That meant she could start school in September. She was a bit sad that she wouldn't be seeing everyone at the Archive most days, but kinda excited too!
She had woken up to the smell of cake, so she had dressed quickly, putting on her beloved red dressing gown and all but skipped out of her room. Mister Casper was in the kitchen, finishing off a cake. When he spotted her, he walked over to her, kneeling down to hug her, wishing her a 'happy birthday'.
They had spent the morning together, Mister Casper had taken her into the city to go shopping after a quick breakfast. They had walked around for a bit, grabbing coffee and books and clothes, before coming home for lunch.
They had cake, and Mister Casper had sung the 'Happy Birthday' song to her.
The cake was delicious.
Of course it was. She thought with a smile. Mister Casper made it.
"Righto!" He exclaimed with a clap of his hands. "I think it's gift time."
Cinder nodded, and waited with giddy anticipation as he brought the pile of gifts over to her. She opened the cards first, and would soon place them atop her chest of drawers as she always did with cards.
She loved the books, and the cuddly Grimm. The sweets went into a biscuit tin, which she understood. She'd eaten too many sweets before, and that had made her sick, which wasn't nice.
Then she came to the last gift, one of Mister Casper's gifts. It was one of the big important envelopes that the Archives sometimes had. Mister Casper let her open it, encouraged her to do so even. Inside was a stack of papers.
She tried to read them, but the words were long and fancy and she didn't understand them. So she asked Mister Casper what it meant. Why had he got her paper for her Birthday? True, he had got her other things, cake and clothes and books and toys...but the paper looked important and fancy.
"It's…" Mister Casper paused, and a look that Cinder didn't understand crossed his face. "They are adoption papers, Cinder. I would very much like to adopt you, if you're okay with that."
She had needed to ask him what that word meant. He told her, smiling all the while.
She had said yes. And then yes again. And then a third time, just to be sure. Because someone cared about her enough, loved her enough, to make her their family. She could have a Dad.
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt as that last fact registered.
She could have a Dad!
She'd never had a Dad before. Mama hadn't been nice. Nana Ess had been at times, but scary too. Aunt Tabitha had always snuck her life gifts whenever she got back from travelling, but she travelled a lot.
She threw her arms around Mister Casper. Because people like hugs. Hugs are warm. Hugs are like home. She liked hugs.
She thinks she might like having a Dad, too.