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Abel leaned his chin against the palm of his hand and watched Talen move about the kitchen. He frowned in protest when Talen mentioned he couldn't fool him. "I guess...but I do FEEL sick." He added and then quirked his brows as he watched his friend put bacon on a plate. At first he thought he meant to serve it raw, then he watched him put it in the microwave.

"Uhhhh..." He was going to say something but stopped and let the man do what he wanted. Mei had told him once that the microwave could cook any food in a minute. Abel had said while it may be true, it never tasted quite the same. But he supposed he should let Talen do it, no hurt in trying new things.

"Okay..." He said in the most unenthusiastic voice possible. He let go of his chin and examined the boxes of cereal. "Frosted Flakes? That sounds terrible." He said honestly but was pushed into a seat with a spoon into his mouth. He blinked up at Talen and shook his head, slowly removing the spoon.

"You don't have to..." He stopped midway and decided better than to continue to speak out against all of this. There was no way to deter anyone from doing what they wanted today. As he started to poor some cereal he thought looked and sounded less like dandruff into his bowl he heard the bathroom door open and close.

Glancing up he saw Mei come out into the kitchen grinning widely and holding something behind her back. Abel frowned and looked down at his bowl of small o shaped cereal. "Good Morning." He said as happily as he could.

Mei walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Happy Birthday, sweetie pie honey bunch." She said overly sweet. Abel smiled weakly and looked to her arms which were pushed behind her. "I'm so glad you decided to wake up and join us on this bright and cheerful day." She spoke more softly than usual, so as to not aggravate her headache. Once she was sitted across from Abel she watched him watch her.

"What is that?" He asked her, pointed to what was behind her back. "If its a present...really you shouldn't have."

"Not a present. A gift." She said and pushed a large present onto the table. It was wrapped perfectly in silver wrapping paper and a large black bow. "You can open it now. Or wait till everyone is watching you." She used the towel around her shoulders to finish drying her long black hair. "Either way, I hope you like it."

((Hahaha after that offer, how can I refuse?! Hahaha. Ahhhh today was SO exhausting. I was CLOUDY all day except for a few hours when I went to my best friend's place. Man. So tired...I need SLEEP. I might actually go to sleep before twelve tonight...))

Abel looked up from the gift when Talen ran over to him, demanding him to open it now. He looked at him curiously and then over to Mei who was grinning. "Alright...but you shouldn't have gotten me anything. You already bought me all those clothes."

Mei laughed loudly and shook her head. "Oh please, I've got stacks on deck all the time." At Abel's blank stare she laughed some more. "I've got a lot of money. This small house is very deceiving. I've collected a lot over the years." She then leaned back as Abel looked down again.

Slowly he untied the large bow and began to gently ease open the gift wrap. What he revealed made him freeze. He stared down at it. It was a very large scrapbook. On the cover it was decorated elaborately with golds and whites. The picture in the center was a picture of Abel as a young kid. It was a very old picture in black and white. He was sitting on a chair that was too big for him. His perfectly curled hair was cut short and he was wearing a kid's suit. He was staring out with big eyes and a little pout.

Abel let out a stifled laugh and looked to Mei who was leaning over, smiling. "It took me AGES to find all of these by the way. I wish I had found more, but I knew that would take years."

Abel blinked. "How long did it take you to make this?" He asked.

"Just OPEN it. Gosh. No questions. Anyways. It's worth it if its for you."

Abel frowned at that and opened up the album. On the first few pages were more pictures of Abel as a baby or as a young boy. In a few of them his parents were with him, and in some a young girl. As Abel flipped through them he felt his heart clench and his stomach twist. As he turned more, the pictures started to become more recent. In the middle of the book it stopped abruptly to a page with the simple words "a new".

Then there were picture of Gabriel and Mei together and some with other people, all smiling and grinning. Some pictures were taken without anyone noticing, doing things, Abel sitting and writing, Gabriel picking up a little boy, and more. Again there was a break in the pages. On the photoless page was another word "life". Then there were pictures of all of them, Talen, Saul, Alice, Gabriel, Mei, some even of Lilith. Most of them were taken without notice.

On the last couple pages were hand written notes, some really old, some really new.

"One is from your mom..." Mei said quietly as Abel stared at the old looking paper and ink. "The others are from me and Gabe. He kind of helped with this book too."

Abel had said not a word throughout the whole time of looking through the album. He put a hand to his eyes and covered his face, shaking his head. "Mei..."

"You know it's hard for me to do anything this sappy and emotional. So don't you DARE apologize or cry or ANYTHING. Or I'll scream everywhere. Just thank me okay?" She said, standing up. Abel jumped from his chair when Mei stood up. He grabbed her and yanked her against his chest.

He was smiling the truest smile he had given since getting back. He squeezed her tightly and she laughed. "Mei...this is the best present I've gotten. EVER. My whole life. It's amazing. I love it. I really do. Thank you...so much." He rubbed at his eyes and let go of her. She looked up at him with a bright happy smile. "I mean it."

"Heh..." She nodded and closed the book. "You should read the notes and all the other little things when you've got time to be emotional." She said and wandered to the kitchen. "Now I heard bacon. I want. I WANT." She made grasping motions to the microwave.

Abel sat down, shaking his head and running a hand over his present, still in disbelief.

((Wheeee. Haha. She outdid herself!))

((I am seriously about to die from STRESS. I HATE GOING TO SLEEP. I LOVE SLEEPING. I HATE GOING TO SLEEP. IHGSHFLKSJDKFJSD. I went to BED an HOUR before Binh. And now she is asleep SNORING like crazy. I can't HANDLE IT. I'm having suicidal thoughts right now. Murderous ones alongside suicidal ones.

I'm unstable.

UGH. I want to punch someone.

I also want to sleep!@!!))

Mei laughed joyfully at Talen's comment and she gave a shrug. "What can I say? I'm just too awesome. No one can overcome that! Sometimes I wonder if I do things too well. Because what happens if the next time, I fail? Then I look ridiculous! But never mind me." She leaned towards the bacon when Talen took it out.

"Mmmmm." She wiggled her bum around and then followed Talen over to the table. "I want to shove it into my face." She declared and sat down across from Abel who was looking at Mei and shaking his head. "What? I can't be a ravenous glutton? WHO GAVE YOU THAT WONDERFUL PRESENT?! I DID. So don't JUDGE me. Hypocritical fancy pants. Gosh." She huffed.

"Looks like someone got over their hangover fast." Abel murmured, watched the bacon curiously. He was almost afraid to try this radiated meat. "Yeah...I guess. I still think I have hives though." He said and reached for a strip of bacon when a knock came to the door. All three dogs jumped from their sleeping positions on the floor and scurried over to the door.

Mei simply put some bacon in her mouth and stood up. "The party doesn't start till I walk in!" She yelled in a strange tone of voice and slid down the hallway, waving her arms as she tried to remain balanced.

Abel laughed a little at the woman's actions as he nibbled on some bacon, pleasantly surprised at the outcome. "Even though this was cooked abnormally fast...it tastes better than I thought it would." He paused and looked up, a strip hanging from his lips. "I mean...no offense. Sorry." He grinned and finished eating the bacon.

When Mei opened up the door, what she saw surprised her. Standing there, in all her unglory (according to Mei) was Lilith. Mei stood there, staring at her and then moved to close the door when Lilith stopped it.

"I'm here to see Abel." She said blankly. She scratched her head and raised her brows as Mei narrowed her eyes. "I figured he'd be here. I also have something for him. Saul told me it was his birthday. So I got a little something." She raised a small wrapped box to Mei's view.

"Huh. Well you're not eating here." Was all Mei said before walking to the kitchen and continuing to eat.

Lilith walked in after Mei and looked into the kitchen. When Abel looked up he stared at Lilith in surprise. "Oh...Lilith! I mean...Good Morning." He stood up but was pushed down by the woman. "Ummm...what brings you here?"

"Such pleasantries. Anyways, I brought you a gift." She set the small box on the table and glanced over at the bacon before reaching out to get some. Mei smacked her hand and glared up at her.

"No eating. You're here for Abel, remember? Not food." She said over a mouthful of lucky charms.

Lilith looked away and then to Talen. "'Sup." She said with a lift of her chin. Her crystal green eyes went back to Abel. "So yeah. Happy Birthday or whatever you crazy people say." She pulled a chair and examined Mei. "Do I have permission to sit down?" Mei ignored her completely, reading some games off the back of the cereal box. "Alriiiight theeeeen. Take that as a yes." She slid into the chair. "The gift isn't much. I dunno what you like. I would have bought a car...but last I remember Saul told me you hated them. Then I thought of buying like...a pet or something...but I hate animals. So this had to do."

Abel blinked at her. "Oh...you didn't have-"

"You're right. I didn't have to. But I did. So that's that. Am I right?"

"I guess."

((Hahaha. Lilith is so weird.))

Lilith looked down at the offer of bacon and she took it. "I'd rather have it raw. But I'll take it anyways." She said straight faced. Her head turned when Saul came in, looking rather tired. She rolled her eyes, looking back at Talen. "I walked. I can't be held accountable for SOMEONE being fat." She then pushed the present at Abel. "Hurry up. I don't got all day, bub. Well, technically I have an eternity. But...you know what I mean. I'd rather NOT wait all day."

Abel smiled to Saul when he came in and then looked somewhat confused at Cain's message. "Oh...right then." He lifted the small box and examined it. It was wrapped especially poorly next to the previous gift. It was covered with crumpled, stained newspaper and taped wherever possible. This made Abel laugh a little.

"Yeah. I don't know how to wrap presents. I don't give them. Never have actually. So I did what I figured worked. You're gonna rip it anyways, why rip something decent?"

Abel nodded in response and proceeded to tear the newspaper off. He then pulled off the top of the box. Inside was a small diamond ring. Abel starred at it.

"Haaaaaaahhhh." Lilith said as if trying to let out a laugh which ended up just sounding especially forced. "I figured it was useful. You can give it to the tiny weak girl. You need a woman or something. Your pitiful." She said simply and shrugged, leaning back and catching a look from Mei. "Well its true. Never met anyone so pathetic. The two of them compliment each other so well. They can feed off their pity." Her comment should have made Abel upset but he started to laugh, so hard that it become quiet and he leaned over.

Lilith pursed her lips and stole some bacon from him. "Dunno what's so funny. Freak." She chewed the meat. "That's not your real present. I'll give it to you when I know what to get you. You're too strange to find something you'd actually like."

((Ahahahaha. So straight forward.))

Abel rubbed tears from his eyes as he took a large breath and looked up. He looked up at Talen with a confused look. "...Gangster? I don't want to look like I'm in a gang. That'd be troublesome..." He then looked to Lilith who was staring at him with her signature blank look. "Thank you. It's great. It really is." He said politely and she raised one brow.

"You suck at lying. Just tell me you don't like it. Give it to your girl. She'd like it. Trust me, I'll get you something better later. If I remember..."

"Don't worry about it." Abel put the ring into his pocket and then started to finish eating his cereal. "So..."

Lilith was standing up and moving to the fridge.

Mei followed her with her gaze. "This is my house." She said coldly. Lilith was reaching to grab some soda when she looked to Mei. "You should be so inclined as to respect that. Plus my dogs don't like you."

Lilith pulled out the soda and closed the fridge before turning her attention to the three dogs who were still in the hallway all following her every move. "I hate dogs." Was all she said and sat down again. "Rather eat them." At that Zeus growled slightly, Lilith barred her teeth at them and growled back, rather menacingly. Zeus's ears flattened and he sat down. "Anyways. What's on the agenda? Any fun activities? Maybe go to the park and have a picnic?" She said, obviously sarcastic, despite the lack of such tone.

Abel looked at her. "A picnic?" His eyes lit up and Lilith glanced at Talen and Saul. "Oh...sarcasm..." He said and finished his cereal.

Abel glanced up at Talen when he told him he was crazy. "Yeah...I didn't think about the snow..." He quirked his mouth slightly and then looked taken back by his friend's next statement. His lips tugged into a smile and he widened his eyes like a child. "A picnic in the snow? Really?" He said, echoing Talen's earlier words.

Lilith stared at the two and looked to Saul. "I don't get them. But whatever. Snow's great. Wet and damp and white like dandruff, not as dry though. Maybe worse than dandruff...cause it makes your pants wet." She mumbled and took a few gulps of soda.

Mei sighed after finishing her breakfast and she stood up. "You guys are messed up. You can go have your picnic. I need to take care of a few things, and do something Gabe asked me to do. Then I'll just call you when I finish. Awright?" She asked Abel.

He smiled at her and nodded. "Sure! Wish you could come have a picnic with us though." He said, standing up with his plate and bowl. "What should we bring? Sandwiches? Crackers?" He wandered into the kitchen, happier now. "Oh! But where will we eat? We can't sit in the snow. I don't want anyone getting sick!"

"We're really doing this?" Lilith asked with the least amount of enthusiasm possible in a person.

Abel smiled over at Saul when he came in after him. "Oh...ummm...not really. Unless you want to help make sandwiches?" He said, pulling out the needed materials to make them.

Lilith stared at Talen when he mentioned wanting to see her sled. Her stare was like a hawk seeking its prey. Her deadpan expression made it all the more threatening. "If any of you try to make me sled. You're ALL going to die." She turned her head after her cold threat and picked some more bacon off from Abel's leftovers. She stood up after finishing off any food on the table.

She glanced at Talen, pointed at him as if to further exhibit her threat, then followed Saul and Abel into the kitchen. "Just meat on mine." She said to Abel as he put deli slices onto some bread. "No lettuce, mayo, nothin'. I'm a carnivore." When Abel looked at her curiously she simply stared at him and leaned her head in, as if asking what he was looking at.

"Oh...okay." He turned a little, slightly uncomfortable under her stare, and went back to work. "This will be great. I've never had a picnic before."

"Fantastic." Lilith echoed and rummaged through the rest of the kitchen for any more possible edibles.