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(It all started because of a misunderstanding. Penny had asked her on a date without knowing what it meant. Della had been crushing on her for awhile at that point, so she’d eagerly said yes.
They went to see a movie, got drinks, and then went for a walk through the park that resulted in Della jumping in the lake, dragging Penny with her. Penny walked her home after, her hand in hers. They were sopping wet and laughing. It was a wonderful evening.
Until Della tried to kiss her.
Then it went downhill.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Nothing! I mean, I’m sorry! I-I thought you...”
“What?”
“It’s just, you asked me out on a date and everything, so...”
“Yes. Friends go on dates. As we are friends, I decided it was high time we went on one.”
“Penny, friends don’t go on dates.”
“What? Yes they do!”
“No, they don’t. People who are romantically interested in each other go on dates!”
“...Oh.”
“I thought you knew that. Didn’t you go on a date with Launchpad?”
“I went on a date with Launchpad?”
Needless to say, it was incredibly awkward. But just as the feeling of disappointment twisted in Della’s gut, Penny asked her on another date, knowing what it meant.
“Go on a real date with me.”
“What?”
“I want to go on, what you call, a date with you.”
“But I thought... you didn’t have feelings for me.”
“What gave you that idea?”
“But you said—“
“Della. I am still learning earth language. I do not know yet how to express how I feel about you in a way you will understand, but I promise I will learn how.”
“Penny...”
“My heart pounds, like I’m on the battlefield, when I’m in your presence, Della. Please go on a date with me.”
Obviously, she said yes. And that was how their relationship began.
Three months later, Penny became her girlfriend.)
Della took a deep breath. Oh man, this was scary. This was not at all like she had pictured it when the boys were still eggs. In her head, she’d thought they would’ve known much earlier. She never thought she’d be sitting them down to tell them she was bisexual.
She thought they’d be, like, two and still learning what they liked and didn’t like about the world. Not eleven and already with opinions.
She didn’t doubt Donald’s parenting, not one bit. She knew for sure Donald had taught them to love and accept all people, regardless of their differences. She was so extremely grateful to her brother.
But the boys were still their own individuals, and they still had their own beliefs.
“What’s up, Mom?” Dewey asked, once all four of them were situated on the furniture. He and his brothers were sitting on the sofa, while their mom had gotten a kitchen chair to sit in front of them.
“Did we do something wrong?” Huey asked nervously.
“I’m innocent!” exclaimed Louie.
“No, no, none of you have done anything wrong,” Della assured them. “I just have something very important I need to tell you.”
The boys looked at each other, then at her.
“What is it?” asked Huey.
Della took another deep breath. She could do this. She was an adult, of course she could do this.
“Kids,” she said, “I’m bi.”
They just stared at her, so Della continued.
“And I have a girlfriend.”
It was quiet for what felt like an eternity.
“Okay,” Louie broke the silence.
Della hadn’t realized she was holding her breath.
“When do we get to meet her?” Huey asked.
Dewey elbowed him. “It’s obviously Penumbra, Hugh!”
“Wait. Dewey, you knew?” Della asked in surprise, blinking rapidly.
“You kiss her cheek every time she comes over,” Dewey said.
“How did you figure this out before me?!” Huey cried.
“Because you’re not as smart as Dew in that area,” said Louie.
“I’m smart!”
“You’re all smart,” Della quickly said before they could start arguing. Then she smiled.
This had gone well. Really well. Her sons didn’t judge her for her sexuality. They were okay with it. It didn’t change what they thought about her. They didn’t hate her. Even if they did, she still would’ve loved them. But they didn’t.
“I love you,” she said emotionally, her heart warm.
“We love you too, Mom,” Dewey said, his brothers agreeing.
All three of them encased her in a hug, and Della’s heart soared when Louie hugged her without any hesitation.
After a moment, she let them go play.
When they were gone, she released a gigantic relieved sigh and flopped onto her back on the sofa. Donald’s face appeared above her.
“You did it, Dels,” he said.
Della grinned. “I did it.”
“You sure did.”
“I came out to my kids.”
“You came out to your kids.”
Della’s grin turned soft. She sat up and pulled her brother down into a hug.
“I love you, Don.”
“I love you too.”
That evening in the kitchen, while making tea, Della was pleasantly surprised when Webby approached her.
“Hey Webs!” she greeted cheerfully, smiling at the young girl.
She was such a good kid. Della really liked her.
Webby had her hands behind her back, rubbing a foot on the back of her ankle. Della realized she was nervous about something.
“Hey... um...” the young girl began, biting her bottom lip. “Is it okay if I ask you something?”
“It’s more than okay,” Della told her kindly, leaning against the counter.
Webby swallowed visibly. “I-I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I-I overheard you tell the guys that you’re...”
“That I’m bisexual?” Della said softly.
Webby nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’s okay, honey. I was going to tell you anyways.”
Webby’s eyes sparkled at the nickname. Della made a note to herself to call her honey more often.
“Really?”
“Really. So, what did you want to ask me?”
Webby shrunk in on herself again, a flicker of fear on her face. “Um... well, I was just wondering...” She took a deep breath, then looked Della bravely in the eye. “How do you know when you like a girl?”
Della’s smile grew. She knew it. She knew it! She wasn’t surprised in the slightest. She’d seen the way Webby looked at her ‘friend’ Lena.
“Sit with me,” Della said, gesturing to the kitchen table. “I can’t tell you how you feel, but I can tell you my experience with the ladies.”