11. Home On The Range

*Matty POV*

"Look Mommy, I made an exquisite bouquet just for you,"

Jaydean smiled as she handed me small marigolds and daisies wrapped in light blue tissue paper, I took in their sweet scent and looked down on her.

"Hmm, this is sweet and all but where's your final report card?" I asked her and her head instantly fell to the floor.

"I-It's in my backpack," she sighed, pointing to the living room.

I walked across our open concept kitchen where I had been putting away groceries while Luca started cooking dinner and into the living room, where the quads were currently playing with every object they could get their hands on. Nova was trying to reach over the long coffee table and grab the glass balls in the center on display but thankfully her arms were too stubby.

"Nova baby, you know that's not for you." I chastised her and she looked up in shock as if she never gets caught. She puts on a pout filled with maximum attitude and I picked her up. Letting her join me on my hip as we walked over to her sister's backpack where Koa, Ji-Ji, and Roo were messing with Jayde's crayons and doodling on blank sheets of paper.

"It's right here mommy," Jaydean sighed as she pulled out her report card and handed it to me. I knew she got it today since her school had sent out a mass phone call to all the parents but I didn't know why she was hiding it from me.

Until I read it.

Every single subject had only the highest marks possible. A's all across the board in English, math, social studies, Spanish, art, gym and music with her lowest score being a 99 in science out of a 100.

At the very bottom of the page was a small note from her teacher asking to hold a parent conference with us to discuss Jaydean skipping a grade or two next year since first is beyond her level of intelligence.

"Jaydean..."

I looked over the report card that Nova was now trying to grab from my hands as Jayde shrunk back looking like she was going to break down in tears.

"I don't want to switch grades mommy. I want to stay with all my friends and Hasan. If I switch we won't have the same teachers or lunch period anymore," She sniffled and I opened my available arm to her, letting her run into my arms and hug me as she burried her head in my stomach.

"Jay Jay?" The boys called out their big sister's name as they curiously started to scramble around us.

"Hey, why don't we go to your room and talk okay? Just you and me," I asked her and she nodded, wiping her tears with my tank top before making the ascent upstairs. I followed behind her, leaving the boys behind and leaving Nova with them as I shut her door behind us.

Jaydean walked into the center of the room, plopping down in the pink chair swing Thomas had strung up earlier this week while I saw in front of her, sinking into a plush bean bag chair she often escaped to when she wanted to read her novel series. She just finished the last Harry Potter book and we were looking for new books to satisfy her hunger. I looked up to see her library was flooded with books she had already finished just this year.

Jaydean sat in her chair with her legs scrunched up to her chest so her chin was rested on her knees as she continued to wipe her tears. I looked at her report card and let out a small sigh, knowing this would happen to at least one of my children.

"Well, first I want you to know that I am very very proud of you Jayde. I know this past year has been rough with your baby brothers and sister coming home and there are a lot of little girls your age who would flunk at school or act out instead if they were in your position," I tell her honestly and she picks at a small necklace made of Jayde that we bought her for her sixth birthday and she wore it every day since.

"Why would I act out? That would only stress you and my daddies out more and I wouldn't want to do that. You guys work so hard to take care of us and make sure that we're happy." Jaydean says as she gently scratches a scrape on her knee. I quickly swat her hand away from it, since she should know by now how much that bothers me.

"I know baby, and you're an amazing big sister. Nakoa, Mika, Rumi, and Novalee are very lucky to have you to guide them and sometimes cover up for them," I hint and she giggles, hiding her smirk in her knees.

"I only cover up for Rumi cause he's so cute," Jaydean admits and I tickled her little toes, always knowing she was the henchman to the criminal mastermind himself. She gently kicks back my tickles and I stop, getting on my knees so I could see into her marvelous blue eyes, which only got deeper with every year she grew older.

She's not even an adult yet but seeing her now already has me wishing I could slow down time since she's growing so fast and she wouldn't be this cute forever. Her tiny flutter kicks reminding me of when she was an obnoxious little fetus the size of a lemon and the bond we shared even then.

"Why are you crying mommy?" Jaydean stopped kicking me and her expression softened as she held my head in her hands and wiped my tears away with her small fingers.

"I'm crying because my baby girl isn't a little baby anymore," I sighed and she leaned down, kissing me on the lips while holding my head and smiling.

"Don't say that. I'm always going to be your baby mommy," she giggled, bringing my smile back as I tucked the loose strands of soft red hair behind her ear.

"You better," I threatened and tickled her again, causing her to burst out laughing but this time she turned the tables, attacking me like an animal and tickling me back this time. I tried not to laugh but couldn't help it as she got my weak spots right below my armpits.

"AH! MERCY! MERCY!" I begged and she finally released me from her evil clutches so I could catch my breath while she sat on top of my chest, gently nuzzling her nose against mine.

"I love you mommy," She said in this sweet voice that I almost didn't recognize as hers, it touched my heart and warmed my bones in a funny way that almost made me light headed.

Because I had my little girl when I was just eighteen and had no fucking clue as to what I was doing but I gave up the rest of my youth to make sure she had hers and it was the best that I could make it. But I was never sure if my best was good enough until now.

Now I know I'm more than capable enough of being a good mom. I might not be the mom of the fucking year, but I'm a good mom and that's all I can really ask for. That one day she looks back at our time together and says damn, you know what? You were an okay mom, you weren't that bad.

"I love you too sweetheart," I sighed and she hugged me, just resting her head on my chest as I took slow breaths in and out.

"The kids in school make fun of me," She admits while toying with my soft cotton shirt and I slowly ran my fingers through her hair. Holding myself back from doing or saying anything that would compromise this moment so I could find out more.

"What do they say?" I asked, fearing the worse after our incident last year the bastard son of the local Klan leader.

"They make fun of me because I'm always finishing my classwork early. When we finish we're supposed to read books to wait for the other kids. But I always feel like I'm spending the entire class reading books because I'm always finishing early. School is too easy," she finally confessed and I gave her a small squeeze.

"Well sometimes, kids make fun of smart people because they're just jealous and you'll have to learn to live with that. People are always going to be jealous of you Jaydean whether it be because you're too intelligent, too beautiful, or too talented. Just always remember that no matter how hard you try, you will always be the enemy in someones story. That's just how life works baby," I gently explained to her as we snuggled together and I kissed the top of her head.

"But if we do what your teacher suggests, we could move you up a few levels in school so you can be with kids who think just like you. They might be a little bit older than you, but you'll have more things in common with them and make new friends who won't make fun of you," I tell her and I can feel her nod against my chest.

"How about we try it for next year and if you don't like it, then we'll switch you back okay? But you're so smart baby. Your daddies and I only want what's best for you. You know I wouldn't make you do it if it was going to hurt you," I told her and she perked her head up.

"I dunno mommy, you told me that the other day when we went to my physical and those shots hurt for weeks," She bought up and I rolled my eyes.

"Aish Jaydean, that's a different situation," I tried to explain but she wasn't having it.

"What do you mean it's different! You told me the shot is what's best for me and it was excruciatingly painful!" She dramatically gestures to her scrawny little arm and I laughed.

"Guys! It's time for dinner!" Thankfully Luca announced from downstairs to get me out of this stressful argument with our daughter.

"Coming Papa!" Jaydean called back and I handed her the report card.

"Here, you should show this to them at dinner so they can be proud of you too," I told her and she took the paper from me, holding it in her hands like it was a weighty burden.

"Yes Mom," She says and quickly skips out of the room sending me into a state of shock.

Who told her she could call me mom? One moment I was Mommy and the next I was just Mom? What the fuck?

"Jaydeeean!"

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These days I'm getting a lot of notifs for people starting the Secret Between US and a lot of people are just addicted and some even get through the whole book in one sitting without sleeping.

Meanwhile, I'm over here *Demonically taps fingers together*

Welcome to the addiction...

Also Jaydean's room, which Luca and Thomas put together.