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Ava
Lucy knew it was coming. She knew that eventually she would have to explain to her kids about sex. She would have to tell them about the birds and the bees. They have asked about it in the past but they were never old enough.
But now Ava has a boyfriend.
Charlie.
Smitty’s nephew.
She is old enough now and now that she has a boyfriend who she makes out with.
Lucy sighs softly and knocks on Ava’s door. Her daughter looks up and gives her a smile.
“Hi mom.”
“Hi Aves.” Lucy says. “I need to talk to you about something.” Ava puts her pencil down and narrows her eyes at her.
“I’m not breaking up with Charlie because he’s Smitty’s nephew.” She says.
“I know Aves. It’s not that.” Lucy says. She glances at the door. She asked Tim to come in with her but he said he would get the next one. They did have four kids to talk to.
(She might have rolled her eyes at that.)
“What is it?” Ava asks.
“Well you do have a boyfriend Ava. You are 15, and a teenager. You need to be responsible.” Lucy says. “And that includes doing more than just making out.”
“Sex.” Ava says and Lucy jumps at the word. “Don’t worry about that.”
“I do worry Ava. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just hope you know not to feel pressured to have sex. You know that’s how—”
“Babies are made.” Ava says. “I know mom. Its not lost on me how you have four kids.”
“Okay now—”
“Mom I had a sex ed class.” Ava says. “I know the ins and outs. I know teenage pregnancy is a thing. And I already have my period. I am going through puberty.”
“It is.” Lucy says. “If it happens Ava, your dad and I will support you. Okay? No matter what. I just want you to know that having sex unprotected can lead to consequences.”
“Pregnancy.” Ava says.
“Not just that.” Lucy replies and she sits down on Ava’s bed and leans forward. “Sexually transmitted diseases.”
Ava makes a face. “That sounds scary.” She says.
“It’s just about being responsible Aves.” Lucy says. “You are smart. I trust you to know that it’s not just sex. I want you to do it when you are ready. I want you to find your person.”
“Like dad is yours?”
“Well yes but—” She pauses for a few seconds. “Ava, your dad and I didn’t know each other until we started working together.”
“I know that.” Ava says. “Dad was married before. You dated that weird lawyer guy and Nolan.”
“Right.” Lucy says and she has questions about Ava knowing her dating history.
“You had—” Ava shudders and makes a face. “Ew.” Lucy laughs a little.
“I know.”
“It’s bad enough with you and dad.”
“Ava!”
“You brought this up mom.” Ava says. Lucy groans just as someone knocks on the door. Tim pokes his head in.
“Is it safe to come in?” He asks.
“Yes dad. I’m not having sex for a long time.” Ava says. Lucy bites her lip at the look on Tim’s face.
“That’s correct.” Tim says and his voice is higher than normal. “Not until I’m dead.” Ava rolls her eyes.
“That will be impossible. You are invincible.” Ava says.
“I’m not joking Ava.”
“Dad!” Ava says exasperated. “Charlie’s dad already gave him the talk too. We are both aware okay?”
“Okay.” Lucy says and she stands up pressing a kiss to the top of Ava’s head. “We trust you Aves.”
Ava nods and turns back to her desk. Lucy quietly leaves room without another word. Tim follows her.
He turns to her in the hallway and she pushes at his shoulder.
“Tag your it.” She says. Tim raises his eyebrows at her. “It’s your turn.”
Tim just groans.
***
Daisy
“Hey Dais.” Tim says coming into his daughter’s room. Daisy is bent over something, probably homework or something she is drawing. Daisy turns in her chair to look at him.
“Hi?” She says.
“I need to talk to you about something.” He says. “We talked to Ava a few days ago.” Daisy’s face pales a little.
“She told me about that.” She says. “I’m only 13, why are you talking to me now.”
“To keep you informed.” Tim says. “I know you are younger but if we have it now.. you won’t have to have it later.”
Daisy is silent and just stares at him. She looks a lot like Lucy at the moment.
“Okay.” Daisy says. “It’s about sex right?”
“Yes and puberty but I know you are going through that right now.”
“It’s how babies are made.” Daisy says. Tim winces and nods.
“Yes.”
“I shouldn’t have it until I’m older.” Daisy says.
“You shouldn’t feel pressured to have it.” Tim says. “You never have to say yes. You are allowed to say no.”
“Right,” Daisy says and she looks curious. “My first time should be special.” Tim closes his eyes and then opens them to find Daisy still looking at him.
“It should be.” Tim says. “We can’t always be there to guide you Daisy. Your choices are your choices. If you choose to have sex with someone that is your choice.”
“Okay.”
“Just wait until I’m dead.” Tim says. Daisy rolls her eyes.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Daisy asks. “Ava has a boyfriend and you are very much alive.”
“Don’t remind me.” Tim grumbles. “My point is Daisy, you are a smart girl. You are responsible and I know you will make the right choice.”
“I will dad. Don’t worry.” Daisy says. Tim nods and stands up. He walks over and presses a Kiss to the top of her head.
All his kids were growing up, and he’s not sure how much more he could take.
His beautiful baby girl who wasn’t a baby anymore but still—
“I know Dais.” Tim says. “I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.”
“I love you dad.” Daisy says.
“I love you too.”
***
Levi and June
“Tag your it!” Tim says to Lucy when he sees her in the hallway. “It’s your turn to give the talk.” Lucy freezes and looks at him.
“Levi and June?” She asks. Tim nods. “Wait a second! There’s two of them. There’s two of us! We will both do it.”
“Okay.” Tim says slowly. “But aren’t they a little young? They are only 11.”
“Do you really want to do this again in two years? And besides it’s about them going through puberty too.”
“No.” Tim says. “And true but—”
“Then let’s go.” Lucy says. Tim nods and Lucy knocks on Levi’s door. They might have different rooms but they were always in one or the other.
The both of them.
Tim pushes the door open and sure enough they find both Levi and June in the room. The room is messy as usual but Levi is at his desk and June is in the bean bag chair.
“Hi guys.” Lucy says. She makes her way over to the bed and clears a space. She sits down and Tim follows. “Your dad and I want to talk to you about something.”
Levi and June exchange a look. “The birds and the bees?” June asks. “Why? Ava and Daisy are teenagers. We aren’t.”
“We are preteens.” Levi adds. Tim and Lucy exchange a look this time.
“We know,” Lucy says. “We gave Ava the speech last week and Daisy a few days ago. They both know. We just want you to be informed.”
“You didn’t give them the speech when they were eleven.” June says. Lucy sighs and leans forward.
“Look, you guys may not understand this. You might learn it in school. But we want to make sure you know.” Lucy says.
“Okay,” Levi says. “So this is how babies are made right?”
“Yes.” Lucy says and she’s a little more careful with explaining this. “When two people love each other.”
“Or don’t.” Levi says. “It could just be a one night stand.”
“I don’t know how you know that.” Tim says. “But—”
“If you want a baby with that person.” Lucy says and then stops. “You can wait to find them.”
“You just have to be responsible and safe.” Tim says. June looks at her brother and then back at them.
“So if we have…if we have.” Levi trails off.
“Sex.” June says and Tim jumps at a little at the word like they haven’t been talking about just that. “It can be protected.”
“Yes.” Lucy says. “Pregnancy isn’t the only thing that can happen. You want to make sure you are safe. And like your dad said responsible.”
“And wait until I’m dead.”
“Tim.” Lucy says. “That’s not—”
“So three or four years.” Levi says.
“Levi!” Lucy says looking aghast. Tim just shakes his head and then looks at the twins again.
“I trust you both to make good choices. Just like Ava and Daisy will be making good choices.” Tim says.
“I don’t know,” June says. “Ava is at the library with Charlie today.” She puts library in quotation marks. Tim looks at Lucy who just shrugs.
“Hey!” She says holding up her hands. “She said they were studying.”
“And you believed her?” Levi and Tim say at the same time. Lucy raises her eyebrows at them.
“Yes. I did.” Lucy says. “And I still do.” Tim gives her a suspicious look, she looks away from him.
“We know not to do anything before we are ready.” June says and that’s Lucy cue to leave. She stands up, gives the twins a approving nod. Tim follows suit and meets her in the hallway.
“Well that’s done.” Tim says looking at her and shaking his head a little.
“Thank god.”
Lucy nods in agreement. Thank god. “So about Ava—” Lucy starts. “It’s a study group. And you know who is leading it?”
“Who?”
“Jack.” Lucy says. “He’s Angela’s son and I’m pretty sure he still has a crush on Ava. He will tell his mom who will tell me.”
“Sneaky.” Tim says but he relaxes a little. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for doing this crazy life with me.” Lucy says. Tim nods and leans in to press a kiss to her forehead.
“Only person I want to do it with.” Tim says. “The birds and bees stuff too.”
“You mean—”
“Yes…” Tim says. “You know exactly what I mean.” Lucy laughs and stands on her toes to kiss him.
This life might not be perfect but it was hers, it was theirs and that’s all that matters.