Chapter Text
(Oleander is now 9)
"Why are you so BIG?!" Oleander glared at Hollyhock.
"Aw, c'mon little bro," Hollyhock said with the worm equivalent of a smirk.
"Why you-! I ought to shove my foot up your-!" Oleander growled before getting cut off by Daisy.
"Quit it you two. Oleander, you always knew you wouldn't get this big, why are you complaining?" Daisy intervened.
"I say why, because, let's be honest, he is huge! He's bigger than mom and dad," Oleander pointed out.
"Oh, Ol, remember, Mom said I got it from her father's side," Hollyhock said smugly.
"Oh go chase Cinnamon some more would you?" Oleander snapped.
"I told you, I don't like Cinna like that," Hollyhock huffed.
"Oh really? Cinna isn't your crush?" Oleander teased.
"Enough. You kids still have some lessons to learn before moving out," Mom called.
They all sat around their mother as she spoke.
"Now, one of the most important events of young worms lives is the mating season. For one month every year, unmated young worms gather up and look for a partner." Their mother began, "Some choose to wait until being courted while others take initiative to go court those who catch their fancy. Either way, you need to know when you're being accepted and when you're being rejected. Now, when rejecting an offer, usually just growling and snapping is enough or telling them you aren't interested. If they continue being persistent, it isn't unusual to bite or hit them as a warning, not hard enough to do any real harm, but enough to get your point across. Now, to accept courting, you can purr, just tell them you accept, or lick your courter."
They continued to listen as their mother explained worm courtship.
"Mom, did you have to reject anyone?" Ivy asked.
"Yes actually. I rejected 14 others before your father began courting me," she said.
"Really?" Cosmo exclaimed.
"What? You think your mother didn't have a life before you? I'll have you know I was considered highly attractive," she said. As they had gotten older, their mother had become more teasing with them, telling childhood stories or bringing up stories from her past. She had definitely become more confident as a parent.
"You still are," their father said as he slithered over, nuzzling his mate.
"Mom, dad, not while we're around please." Oleander said with a deadpan expression.
(A little over a year later)
Oleander stood near his siblings in front of his mother, father, and younger siblings.
"You've all grown so much," their mother said as she nuzzled them each.
"Mom, we're grown now, besides, we'll come visit," Hollyhock groaned.
After a very tearful goodbye, Oleander's siblings slithered off. They were all hoping to find somewhere to stay until the upcoming mating season.
"Oleander, you're welcome to stay longer you know, I know your kind doesn't mature until you're older." Momma Worm kindly said.
"*sigh* Yeah, I've decided to stay. Only for another couple years," he said.
"Of course," she said.
(2 years later)
12 year old Oleander walked through the woods. He smiled as he saw the worm he was looking for in the clearing ahead of him.
"Cosmo!" He called.
"Oleander! I was wondering when you'd come," Cosmo said.
"I told you I would come visit after you came back from looking for a mate with mating season, I never specified when after," Oleander said, "So, is my younger brother still a bachelor or is he a mated worm?"
"Still waiting," Cosmo said.
"So," Cosmo began, "How many turned you down this time?"
"Haha, very funny. I tried to court 2 and one worm attempted to court me. The one attempting to court me wasn't really the kind of worm I like though," Cosmo explained after rolling his eyes.
"Oh?" Oleander made a questioning sound.
"Eh, two much of a guy who'd get things done with raw force rather than words or thinking," said Cosmo.
"Oh, so you want a nerd as your mate?" Oleander teased.
"Ugh! I don't even know at this point," Cosmo said as he flopped down.
"Hey," Oleander rested a hand on Cosmo's head, "You'll find someone eventually. Besides, if you don't find anyone, I'll come visit and keep you company."
"Oh joy, my ancient older brother will keep me company in my loneliness.” Cosmo sarcastically said before adding, “Thanks though.”
The two continued to hang out and talk for the rest of the day.