"Oh Jennifer you'll love it, we have a pretty pink room and you can have all the dolls and toys you want...."
"I want DeeDee." IDC mumbled, crossing her arms and pouting.
"Jennifer, don't pout that's not good for ladies." Carol sniffed. "And your brother will be fine, George is in Washington where he belongs!"
"I'm going to be the government too!" IDC argued.
"Quiet Jennifer you're going to wake up your cousin!" Carol ordered gesturing towards the baby in the carseat who didn't even look like he was about to wake up. "And besides, you don't want one of those stuffy government jobs. They're not proper places for ladies."
"Please IDC, Texas really wants you there." DC begged following his sister around the halls of their government building.
"Whose bright idea was it to family Sunday dinner anyway?" IDC asked hoping her brother would drop it.
"It was Georgia's, but it's a really good idea! Besides Gov already agreed to go." DC pointed out.
"That's because Austin will be there." IDC added raising her eyebrow. "I have too much to do Sunday anyway, I can't go."
"For one dinner though?" DC whined.
"Enough DeeDee." IDC ordered glaring at her brother. "Let's get to work."
IDC hated the lacy dress her aunt wore, she hated her hairstyle, she hated everything. All the ladies at Carol's dinner party kept squeezing her cheeks or saying how beautiful she'd be when she grew up, and all IDC wanted was to go back into her room.
"I can't believe Confederation would do that to this poor girl." Carol had said in a flourish retelling the story of how she saved the twins from his abuse. "If I had known..."
"Liar. You knew." IDC thought trying not to glare at her aunt. "You knew and did nothing."
"Where's this sweet young things brother?" A party guest asked.
"Poor George had to go away for a while, we're hoping he'll be well around Christmas." Carol lied before jumping at the sound of a chair clattering on the ground.
"YOU LIAR. YOU JUST WANTED ONE OF US." IDC yelled, tears in her eyes.
"You going to this party would make you admit that DC has a home in Orlando and you can't do that to yourself."
"Did you come to sign bills with me or psychoanalyze me?" IDC asked, glaring at her cousin.
"I mean, am I wrong?" Gov asked.
"Is it so wrong that I don't like him living in Orlando? Have you seen the news over there?" IDC pointed out.
"While I admit hearing the Florida Man stories makes me die inside, you know deep down that's not why you don't like him living there." Gov argued.
"I accepted his boyfriends, isn't that enough?" IDC hissed.
"Of course it is! But accepting that your brother has a home and is surrounded by people who love him away from you should be your next step." Gov explained. IDC huffed and grabbed another pile of bills, furiously beginning to sign off on them. What did her cousin know anyway?
IDC furiously threw some clothes in her bag and zipped it up, trying to get the timing right when this, Maryland boy, would show up to her aunt's house. She couldn't take it anymore, a month away from her brother was too much and she had to go see him. It didn't help that Carol was actively trying to fill her schedule with mundane activities and lessons, in a way trying to get her to forget about DC and accept her new life.
