Ivy

(i) mid-june

          IVY BENNETT LOVED birthdays.

There was just something about them - although she couldn't pinpoint what, exactly - that gave her a sweet, fuzzy feeling inside; a sort of emotion that lay somewhere in the spectrum between irrepressible joy and pure contentment.

And today, on this fine summer's day, it just so happened to be hers.

School had eased by rather quickly, to her relief, and she soon found herself walking down her street and unlocking the door to her house. She dumped her bag in the hallway, only to have her phone inside it buzz, so she fished it out and read the received text.

4:13pm

A: see you in a couple

Ivy texted a quick reply.

I: see ya :)))

Isaac Bennett, having heard his sister's arrival, bounded down the stairs like a little puppy. "Happy birthday, Ivy!" he greeted her with a gap-toothed grin. He held out a small, crinkled present.

"Aw thanks, Is," Ivy replied. She began to peel back the numerous layers of wrapping paper, to reveal an ancient, rusty tin originally used for storing sewing needles and pins. She wondered how Isaac had stumbled upon this - he always seemed to be finding things in the house she didn't even know existed.

"Open it, quick!"

Ivy opened the tin. Inside was a single bracelet, woven with blue threads of a multitude of shades.

"I know blue's your favourite colour. I made it myself - Mum helped a bit too," said the boy. "Do you like it?"

"I love it, kiddo. Thank you." She squeezed him into a hug. "You're the bestest little brother ever; you know that right?"

"'Course I am. All brothers wish they were as kickass as me."

"They can only dream," Ivy agreed.

"Ivy? Get in here, birthday girl," called their mother from the kitchen.

The girl in question was dragged by the arm by her brother, towards the aroma of baking that wafted from the kitchen.

Arranged on the kitchen table were sixteen cupcakes arranged into three rows, each bearing a letter in piped buttercream icing that altogether spelled out Happy Birthday Ivy. The kitchen itself was decorated with silver streamers and balloons - Ivy's mum had a knack for getting things just right when it came to presentation.

Ivy grinned. "You never fail to amaze me. Are the cupcakes raspberry and white chocolate?"

"How could they be anything else?"

"Mother, you are my sun and my stars."

"Oh, I'm everyone's, hon."

Ivy rolled her eyes as she bit into a cupcake. Impeccable, as always. Isaac was already quickly approaching his second one.

The Bennetts - minus Mr Bennett, who was yet to come home - sat for a while and talked contentedly about an array of topics, including: the pros and cons of being a merperson (pros: living and breathing underwater and tail; cons: lack of pizza and rollercoasters etc.), and who was the better Doctor between Tennant and Smith ("so obviously David" "uh, no, Matt totally slays" "I like them both" "well I like David" "Mum, shut up, just because you think he's hot").

During their conversation, Lena couldn't help but notice her daughter eyeing the clock every few minutes.

"Where are you off to, Iv?" she asked, although she could already guess the answer. Not where but who with.