Just so you know I am STILL disengaged, last night will not effect my general involvement...

So it's my birthday on Saturday and SDs won't be with us (rarely will due to their schedules).
SD12 got a bug in her bonnet that she HAD to talk with DP, RIGHT AWAY.
Then she asked me a little while later what I wanted for my birthday. Knowing this would be coming from DP, I let her know. She RAN to DP.

I helped SD9 with her homework (which I DON'T generally do any longer) because she really, really wanted ME to help her and was good about asking...I've been making sure DP does this but know that she prefers I do so, but she has to ask nicely and I have to be in the mood. I'm less disengaged from her anyway.

SD12 comes up to me as SD9 is working, and says, "Cover, I just want to say goodnight and have a good birthday. I won't be here tomorrow since I'll be at mom's."
Me, "Ok, thank you very much...." Thinking great, a day off since there was some change in plans...
THEN she continues, "Cover, I really love you."

** stop the PRESSES **
Total silence from me for a good 3-4 seconds...to assess if she's joking or not. She's clearly not. She hugs me, and I tell her thank you very much, and I do love you too (which I do, just with conditions LOL)...and that was that.