They say when your kids are little, that the days are long but the years are short. I feel that deeply in my soul as I look to our girls. Wren has not long turned eight, Olympia five and Josie about to turn three. Our girls were growing up and my heart hurt a little each time they grew out of their shoes, or their clothes got a little short and needed replacing. Evidence that the growing was happening, even if I didn't want to admit it.

Wren was thriving at school, she had a good group of friends, Cameron still very much glued to her, their bond was strong and Wren was extremely protective of him.I had been up to the school twice when a comment that was unkind had been expressed at soccer practice. Wren had ended up in an altercation with the kid saying it. We have discussed many times how not everyone has kind things to say, and they should be reported to the teacher, not taken into her own hands. Luckily the school was a safe place in the most part, kids were kids, they didn't think anything of it, Cam had always been Cam, there had never been any huge change for anyone to observe... but we were so proud of them both. Wren for sticking up for what was right, and Cam for being brave enough to be whomever he wanted to be, in a world that said,  be this or be that , he was allowed the room to say who he felt he wanted to be. He cut his hair as he wanted, he wore what he wanted, just like any other kid, he just asked for male pronouns... and what the hell is wrong with that?!  There is no brainwashing here, nobody had ever confused him or made him feel a type of way, he just knew from an incredibly young age that inside he was a boy and not a girl. The hatred for his gender assigned at birth made him miserable, so miserable that he withdrew into himself and hated his clothes, his hair, his skin even, and he was four years old, four. Greer and Ria took him to a specialist in the city for advice, a child psychologist, because they had no idea what to do or how to help, they had figured it was just a phase for his age at first... but it was clear it wasn't pretty quickly. The sadness Greer saw in her child's eyes, it terrified her, he was depressed, her baby who had everything in the world going for him, and shouldn't feel anything but happiness. He shouldn't feel the weight of the world on him. So the day came, with advice from specialists, that they said "okay, let's just let Cameron tell us what would make him feel happy" and the thing he said stuck with them, a simple request for his happiness.

"Mommy I just want to look like me... boy Cameron" he said.

She teared up looking back into the eyes of her beautiful daughter, whom everyone had always said from the get go was "the most darling little girl they had ever seen" and she felt a pain in her throat like if she agreed, she would be saying goodbye, somehow, to the little girl she had given birth to, to the sweet and cute as a button Cameron, that sat in front of her with a hopeful smile. 

"What does boy Cameron look like" she asked softly, trying not to cry.

"I need to cut my hair Mommy" he had said nervously, not knowing how she would feel about it.

She nods slowly "okay, we can do that"

That wouldn't be too bad, it was only hair... it could grow back.

"And I need new clothes... I hate mine" he added.

Greer nodded "okay" she agreed.

Clothes didn't matter... they were just clothes.

"And Mommy can you tell people I'm a boy...I don't like people thinking I'm a girl" he adds.

This was the thing that terrified her, if she went with that, than it went beyond the realms of their home. It went beyond clothes, and hair, it could affect Cameron later, if he then decided he was actually, a she, after all. The thoughts that whirled around her head of all the ifs and buts stopped her from answering.

Cameron's little hands came up and took her cheeks "mommy please don't make me be a girl..." he said as tears ran down his cheeks.

The pain in his eyes was unbearable, as Greer swallowed her own fear and nodded "okay my baby... okay" she agreed, taking him into her arms, and stroking his long blonde hair, for the last time.

If her child could be happy than she would do anything to make it happen. If he needed pronouns that fit his soul, than so be it, her daughter would be her son, but Cameron never changed internally, inside he would always be sweet, and outside he would always be cute as a button. In fact, by the time he was eighteen,  he was the the most striking guy at school, handsome as the summer day was long. Cam was not harmed by being given room to figure it all out, no part of his body was altered as he grew, nothing permanent ever agreed to until he became an adult, and when he was old enough to make his final decision, which was not even blinked at by the time he was eighteen, he could, himself. Cam had always been male to anyone who knew him after the age of four. Adult Cameron, he did make those choices, and he made his own moves, toward having the body he wanted, and the body he knew he belonged inside of.

***
The soccer game is about to start. I am Wrens hype man today whilst Teddy takes Olympia to her basketball game, which by the way is the most adorable thing to witness, lots of little ones trying to dribble a ball as big as them.

Willa is the team coach for the littles, literally her dream on a weekend, to watch Olympia play, whilst she and Teddy stood arms crossed, together, with running commentary at the court side.

Olympia was going to be magnificent if the attention she was getting was anything to go by. Willa and Teddy both agreed, that she took way more initiative with the ball than even Teddy did at that age. That was something. It didn't hurt that Olympia loved it just as much as those two.

"Go Wren" I call out.

Mama joins me, with Josie on her lap. "Where's Cam" she asks.

I point to the left "he's playing midfield today"

"Ah yes I see him...gosh look at Wren go" she observes as we watch her run, arms up and sprinting up the field.

The ball is kicked across to her, and her right leg shoots out beautifully, tapping the ball effortlessly behind the goalkeeper, little Ava Montgomery, her little face screwed up as she fell to the grass.

Wren being Wren, she walked over, hand outstretched, offered in good sportsmanship, as she helped Ava to her feet.

"Go Wren" i call out.

She rolls her eyes at me "stop mom" she calls embarrassed.

I look sideways to my Mama, mouth fallen open "did she just mom me off" I ask in shock.

She laughs, as she hands Josie a drink from her bag.

"I remember when you first did that to me... hurts doesn't it" she says smiling "and now you know how it felt" she says amused, but her smile softens as she looks over my disappointed expression.

I look back to my eight year old, running the field like a boss .

"Harper it's fine... she will be back to mama again later... it's just a thing they do as they grow, and look at you, you went back to mama eventually didn't you. You couldn't keep it going"

"I'm not quite ready for Wren to start changing on me" I worry anxiously, looking to her, and feeling a mix of pride and anxiety that she was growing up.

"I don't want to ever miss her... mama I want her with us always. I know it's not reality, but truly, I've only ever known my adult life with Wren. She is the age of Teddy and I's love story mama ... will I ever look at her and not see the baby that was placed into my arms on Christmas Eve?"

She smiles "No, you will always see your baby, and it will never feel right for her to leave you, but if she's anything like you, she won't roam too far. She will always come home... you know that... you guys are a tight unit, she will always feel the call home to you all. She will just fly and find her own way for a while. We all need that, the room to grow and become our own person. And quite honestly if she doesn't return home regularly, we shall go find her and move in next door, just like you did to me" she says with a laugh.

I look to mama and smile. I run my hand over Josie's hair as she sits contently watching Wren play, her little juice box in both hands, sucking on the straw and her hazel eyes darting over the field as Wren took possession of the ball again.

"Well at-least Josephine is still little... it makes me feel better to still see one of my babies looking like a baby"

"I'm not a baby, mama. I'm three" she says looking up to me.

I run my fingers down her cheek softly and cup her little chin "to me you will always be my baby, Josephine, always" I say with a kiss to her nose.

***

"I hate to say it Teddy, but one day when anyone mentions Nomikos when they talk about Basketball, they will not think of you" Willa says shaking her head and pointing to Olympia, who runs a ring around her little opponent and throws the ball into the basket "they will think Olympia"

"I know it" I return, proudly watching her on the court.

She turns to Willa and I, and waves eagerly.

We wave back "she's going to run this thing... give her a minute and she will... that kid is fearless."

"Reminds me of someone" Willa says looking at me sideways "and you went above and beyond the potential you had. I still pinch myself when I watch you on court... and at the all stars last year... my goodness Teddy, I literally had tears in my eyes watching you play. I'm never not proud of you kid" she says, reaching across and placing her arm around my shoulders.

"I know" I say nudging her "and I love you for it Wills".

"Mommy, lala, what did you think?" Olympia asks running over as the game is called.

I scoop her up onto my forearm, her little white sneakers dangling down, "you were incredible" I say smoothing her dark curls from her forehead and pushing them behind her ear "most importantly did you have fun" I ask.

She nods enthusiastically, her dimples deepening "I want to play again" she confirms wide eyed with excitement and looking around.

Willa and I both smile "she's caught the bug" she observes.

Willa goes to talk to all the other children and parents after the game, leaving Olympia and I to throw the ball around a little.

***

Our girls were becoming their own little people, life was taking shape here in Oregon. I had been with my team for over three years now. Avery was still here too, newly engaged to Amelia, and travelling as much as they could between seasons. We still worked a lot together, outside of the games, and her joining Rose meant our deals were coming in more together, better ones, and better paid as the years and seasons pass by.

The Nomikos family restaurant became our Sunday spot we went to every other week, a huge spread was put on by my momma, for all of the family and extended family. It was a time to get us all together for a feast, and let the littles play together,whilst we all caught up. It felt right, to have us all be close again, after years living out of state, it felt good to be home.

I sat there among the chaos, my eyes dart from my sisters gossiping, teasing and playing together, to Willa and Allie looking to each other lovingly in a deep discussion at the end of the table. A smile slips onto my lips, as I take in the chatter, the sounds of plates and cutlery, the kids all teasing and chasing each other around, Mary and Erica talking food with Momma, and finally my beautiful wife that appears at the back of the restaurant making soft drinks at the bar there.

I slowly stand, excusing myself, and I wonder across the restaurant, eyes solely on Harper, her back to me, my eyes wondering over her appreciatively.

I approach and run my hands around her waist, bringing her closely against me.

She smiles and turns her head "hi" she says as she fills a glass with ice.

"Hi" I return, kissing her cheek.

I turn her slowly and she smiles as I press her waist to me, her back to the bar "you remember your family are all right behind us don't you" she asks.

I smile "I'm not about to lift this dress, don't panic" I tease.

She leans up and kisses me softly.

"I just wanted to kiss you" I say capturing her lips again, a soft and sweet kiss that left a tingle upon your flesh.

Her fingers dance delicately down my cheeks, the kiss deepening to the point it felt as if we lifted off of the floor and were floating on the spot.

"Teddy" Harper asks, pulling back hesitantly.

"Yeah" I reply, cupping her cheek and smoothing it with my thumb.

"Do you ever think about that line we weren't meant to cross ..." she asks, smiling at the thought.

I tuck a stray red hair behind her ear "all of the time" I return, amused.

"I wonder sometimes, if not for my raging hormones, if this would have ever happened" she says looking around me to the family "the girls, us, our marriage... everything... did it really just come to be because of a hormonal surge, a kiss and a boob grope" she asks eyebrows raised, looking back to me.

I try not to laugh. "Harper, it wasn't the hormones, they were the biggest excuse in the world to step over that line, to touch and to kiss that ever existed in the history of plays.." I say amused and laughing a little at the thought.

She laughs too "I think you are possibly correct" she teases.

I widen my eyes "possibly, Harper you played me a little you can't deny it... you wanted to know what it felt like, and I gave you the perfect excuse"

She places her hand on mine at her cheek "and I don't regret a single moment of it... I would do it again..." she says playfully.

I shake my head "I would like to think if we did it all again, we would just start making out at that first dinner I brought Jay Jones too, and never stop..."

"Yep... I would sweep the table clear sending it all flying and just drag you onto that table right in-front of Jay fucking Jones and just claim you there and then" she says looking into my eyes and smiling at the way it made me want to laugh.

"Did that turn you on" I ask.

She runs her hand up my t shirt, grabbing my waist with both hands tightly "far too much to be stuck in the family restaurant, with the family behind us" she reveals.

"Tonight... let's clear the table?!" I suggest.

She kisses me hard, and fast, a promise for later.

"Let's" she says releasing me.

I reach down and take her hands that fall from my flesh "Harper... I love you... so much it's a little ridiculous" I confess, lifting her hand and kissing the back of her knuckles.

"Oh it's beyond ridiculous" she says squeezing my hands "I'm not sure we are normal... but I don't want to be. I want to madly in love, beyond normal, for my entire life, do you think we will be" she asks.

I sigh and place my nose to hers, closing my eyes at the close contact "without a doubt in my mind" I promise.

Life felt complete, little did we know we had another little life to bring into the world yet, a lot of Greek vacations, a lot of chaos with our girls and a lot of teenage hormones to survive. Of course there was also a lot of love to share and experience, life wasn't complete... it was only just beginning.

The end ... for now!

***
*Teddy Bonus chapters will arrive between now and September, a little look at the ten missing years. Check out the future works for what's next from me :)

It's been a time guys 😩😭💪🏼😊😘😉🔥🥵🤯😎🤩🥳🤪🫶🏻💔🇬🇷💕 👩🏻‍🦱👩🏻‍🦰