The Academy

Sixty Six

Tink:

"Jace I got you something. Card first," I say, handing my bag to him from where Rose is gracefully perched on his lap. Like seriously, they look like old art, astonishingly beautiful. Rose really grew up gorgeous. "I hope you get to kiss all the stars on your birthday. We love you. Love, The Pan family," Jace reads aloud. "Why would he kiss the stars?" Samantha asks. "Oh, just something he said in a phone call," I say, winking at them and putting an arm around Peter's waist.

Rose laughs, music to my ears. I haven't heard it in awhile, she's been busy with Matthew. "A new knife set! This is awesome!" Jace exclaims. I laugh, tearing up. "This is perfect," I whisper, leaning against Peter. "I know love. I know,"Peter whispers back and gives my shoulders a squeeze. Rose gives Jace her present and then Trevor, Peter, me and the kids all climb back into my car.

On the way home all four of my kids (Trevor is now included) fall asleep. "I swear this is going to be the most awesome sleep ever," Peter yawns when we come into the apartment. I smile and let Trevor carry the girls to their room. Nathan walks to his room and looks like he might pass out on the ground. "Baby carry me!" I say, holding my arms out. He comes over and picks me up like I am a child. "You could barely lift me at our wedding, when did this happen?" I ask as he carries me on his hip and with one arm. "To be fair your wedding dress weighed like twenty more pounds," he says, sitting down on the bed  and moving me to his lap. "Your turn," Peter says. "My turn?" I ask running my hands through his hair. "Jace got some gifts, now it's your turn," Peter says, starting to unbutton his shirt.

"Psst, Tink, he wants you to take his clothes off," Trevor laughs. "I will throw things," Peter laughs, grabbing a pillow. "Tell me, should I have invested in ear plugs? Is it mentally healthy for kids to hear this kind if thing?" Trevor asks, smiling at us. "Keep getting involved and I will ground you young man," Peter threatens. Trevor laughs but leaves the room, shutting the door on his way out. "It really is Christmas time isn't it?" I ask, going into the bathroom to change into pajamas. "How come Jace gets to kiss the stars?" Peter whines. "Because it was something poetic and romantic to put into a birthday card. And because I don't have any 'stars' for you to kiss. Kissing my runes would take a while though," I say, running on sentences in awkward places.

"Baby I want to kiss every rune twice. Please get out here,"  Peter begs outside the door. I open the door and he smiles at me sweetly. "I love you so much," I laugh at his expression. "I love you so much more," Peter laughs. Peter chucks me over his shoulder. "Mommy can I have a glass of water?" Samantha asks, walking into my room. "Yeah. Give me a second," I say as if being upside down is the normalest thing ever. Peter drops me on the bed and I follow Samantha to the kitchen. "What's a rune?" She asks. I hand her the water and then kneel down, showing her my arms. "You see the silver lines? Those are runes. The different shapes mean different things," I tell her following back to her room. "I've got it mom," Delilah says, taking Sam's hand.

I shrug and go back into our bedroom. "I'm apparently not needed," I say, shutting the door. "You're needed, just not by the kids," Peter says, pulling me close.

"Mom!" Trevor yells the next morning. "What?" I yell back. "Alright fine," I yell when Peter groans. I put on some underwear and Peter's t-shirt and then go into the kitchen. "What?" I demand, the lack of sleep running my temper short. "I just was trying to make their lunches and couldn't find the peanut butter," Trevor says. "They are all allergic to peanuts," I say. "Where's my grandkids?" Dad yells. "Coming," they all call. I help them into their jackets before sending them off. "What's the Netflix password?" Trevor asks. "Do you always talk so much?" I ask. "That's a long password," he comments. For a twenty three year old, this guy is mighty annoying in the morning. "Pan104 now go away," I groan, climbing into bed with Peter, who is asleep again .