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Leah sat on the floor in her bedroom, playing with her guinea pig. Yesterday was a bit rough for her at school. All the girls had a class together to learn about a certain part of their body and it made Leah feel uncomfortable to watch. And she even feels a little bit confused about it, too. Leah knows that she is not like the other kids in her class. Still, it does not make her feel better to know that there are going to be some things that they can do that she can not.
As she let out a sigh, she suddenly heard a knock on her bedroom. Leah turned to head to look at it. A familiar voice spoke from the other side.
“Leah, darling? Are you in there?”
This time, it was Aziraphale’s voice but her father Crowley was standing right next to him. She gave him an answer from the other side of her bedroom door.
“Yes.”
“Can I come in? I just want to check on you.”
Leah did not mind it and granted permission for him to come into her room.
“Sure.”
Within a few seconds, her door opened up and stood both Aziraphale and Crowley. All three of them were looking at one another. Aziraphale was the one who spoke up this time.
“Hello, sweetheart!”
“Hi, Mum.”
“Can we both come on in?”
Leah shook her head.
"Yes."
Both of her parents came into the room and walked over to sit down on the floor next to her.
“How are things going for you?” Crowley asked her.
“I..I am doing okay..mostly. ” Leah answered him.
“Is there anything you want to talk about? It can be about anything you want.” Aziraphale suggested. Leah did have something that she wanted to talk about with them.
“Can someone like me get their period like other girls can?” Leah suddenly asked them both. Aziraphale was confused.
“A period?” Aziraphale questioned. He has never heard of that before. Luckily, Crowley had heard of it and looked at his partner.
“A period for a woman is where they bleed once a month out of there well..lady parts.” Crowley explained to his husband. Aziraphale’s eyes widened.
“Isn’t that dangerous for that to happen to o someone?” Aziraphale asked another question.
“It depends on the woman that is going through it. For some women, yes, it can be for some, it is not at all but it is something that is normal for a woman to go through in her life. Some do not but some do. A lot of them do.” Crowley explained again. Leah looked at Crowley.
“Am I able to get one, though?” Leah asked. Crowley looked back at her this time.
“Do you want to have one?” Crowley asked her. Leah was not sure.
“I am not sure but..it makes me sad that I can not do certain things like other girls at my school. I mean, it sounds very messy to me, to be honest, but..it is something that I want to experience. Even if it is just once.” Leah answered.
“It may be possible for you to get one but you may not be able to, regardless. And that is okay if you do not get or have one. It does not make you less of a girl because of it. And if you do want to have one, I will help you with it.” Crowley told her. Aziraphale looked at him.
“How do you know about this?” Aziraphale asked him. Crowley looked at him again.
“I was looking up stuff about women’s health a long time ago and read about menstrual cycles and such. To be honest..it sounds like it is a very messy and painful thing to go through and I would not wish it upon anyone.” Crowley explained.
“Why do women have it then?” Aziraphale asked.
“Well..it also kind of like a curse because it means that the body does not have a baby in it and such. It is like the body’s reaction to a woman not being pregnant.” Crolwey told him.
“It really does that for that exact reason?” Leah asked. Crowley gave her a nod.
“Yes.” Crowley answered her. Aziraphale felt a bit concerned.
“Why are they teaching children this at such a young age? it sounds so..gruesome for someone so young like that to know about.” Aziraphale was curious.
“It is a little bit, yeah but at the same time, they teach it to kids so young is because children can get one it at a young age. Very young actually. Some can get them as young as nine years old. Some get it when they are older but it is a good idea to be prepared for when the time comes.” Crowley told him.
“I guess it is a good idea for them to know just in case it happens to them.” Aziraphale spoke. Hearing all of this, Leah was not sure if she wanted one now. Leah thought about this for several seconds before speaking to either of them again.
“Is it really okay not to have one? I am not sure yet but now..I am on the fence about it. I want to experience it but..I do not want kids until I am ready to have one..if I ever do or am able to have any.” Leah wanted to make sure while being honest about how she felt at the same time.
“Of course. It is okay to not be able to have one. Beings like us can basically do things like humans can..only if we want to. It is up to you for what you want to do with your body as you become older, Leah.” Crowley said. Aziraphale agreed.
“We are going to give you advice and give guidance along the way as well but as you become your own person, it is up to you for what you want to be. We love and support you, no matter what, dear.” Aziraphale added. Leah smiled.
“I feel better about this. I think I am going to wait but, at least I know that not having one is fine as well. I told other kids in the lesson that I may not be able to get one and the teacher got confused.” Leah explained.
“Some humans do not understand entities like us. Do not let anyone's confusion get you down, hun. You are fine. And if anyone says otherwise, do not let them make yourself feel less of who you are. You are perfect the way you are. Inside and out.” Aziraphale said to her. Leah nodded in agreement.
“Thank you both. I really have not been thinking about it too much but..I just felt a certain way about it and just needed reassurance. I guess. this has helped me a lot.” Leah said back.
“And if you need to talk about anything or need reassurance, you just come to us.” Crowley spoke to her.
“Thanks, Papa. I love you both.” Leah spoke back. Aziraphale smiled.
“We love you, too, dear.” Aziraphale also spoke back to her. After a few more minutes and giving Leah kisses on the top of her head, Aziraphale and Crowley decided that they should leave her to go back to playing with her guinea pig. Before they left, a sudden thought popped into her head and quickly turned to look at them.
“Did you both want me when Mama was pregnant?” Leah suddenly asked, stopping them in their tracks. They turned to look at her again.
“Very much.” Aziraphale replied.
“Really?” Leah asked another question.
“We really did and we still want you. And would never trade anything in the world for you. We are honored and happy to be your parents.” Crowley told her, telling the truth.
“I am glad that I am here and have you both, too.” Leah said.
“We are glad that you are here, too, hun. We truly are.” Aziraphale said back. Crowley also felt the same. And felt so lucky to have the family that he has. After a few minutes, Azirpahale and Crowley finally left Leah alone in her room once again.
“That was not so bad. I will have to think about if I want to be able to be like the other girls but in a way..I do not think i want to for right now. Either way, I am not worried about it anymore. It really does sound quite messy and such and I hate messy stuff and being that way. And having to have it every month just feels or may get so annoying for me. ..I guess not having one is not a bad thing.” Leah said to herself.
Leah is just going to enjoy herself and her body as she is. Plus, she is only a ten-year-old child. Leah still has so many years ahead of her to figure what she wants to be and do with her body. And for the time being, she is just going to be herself and enjoy it as much as she can.
The End