54Graduation
Tris can't take enough pictures of Logan in his robe. It's Bridge Elementary School's kindergarten graduation, and parents are packed in the auditorium to see their babies walk across the stage to receive their little diplomas, tied up with ribbons.
Isaiah's in Tobias's lap beside her, and Nathan's at preschool. Tobias has her arm around the back of her chair.
"Do you think you have enough pictures yet?" he asks.
"I think I need some more," she says with a smile.
"He's not even on the stage yet. He's just in the line-up."
She waves a hand at him, a small gesture to shush him. Isaiah starts babbling random words, and Tobias bounces him on his leg. Their youngest can now say 'mama' and 'dada', which never ceases to bring them joy. They've been a mother and father to three beautiful boys, and each milestone is special.
Their oldest reaches a new milestone today. The ceremony starts, and each young child ambles up the steps and walks across the stage to shake their principal's hand. It's all very serious, meant to mimic a high school graduation as much as possible, even if the children aren't so serious. Some make silly faces on the stage. Most try to find their families in the audience. Some do and wave wildly at them. Tris grabs Tobias's hand when Logan is just a few names away.
"Logan Andrew Eaton," the principal calls into the microphone, and his parents clap as loudly as they can. As a couple, they've had their ups and downs, but they can never deny how proud they are of the children they've raised together.
Logan shakes his principal's hand and receives his paper diploma. Tris will save it in one of her books the second they get home.
The children are allowed to leave with their parents when the ceremony's over, and their summer has officially started. Logan finds them immediately and hugs them both.
"Did you see me on the stage?" he asks excitedly. "Did you see my handshake, Daddy? It was very good."
Logan had been nervous about the handshake, so he'd practiced with his father the night before until he was sure he had it down.
"It was perfect, buddy."
"Can I see your diploma, baby?" Tris asks, and Logan hands it to her. He hasn't untied the ribbon yet, so it's still a rolled-up piece of paper. She unties the ribbon and holds it for both her and Tobias to see.
It reads: "City of Chicago Public Schools Department of Education awards this diploma to Logan Andrew Eaton who has completed the requirements for graduation from Kindergarten."
Below the script is a handwritten comment from his teacher, expressing what a joy it was to have Logan and wishing him luck in first grade.
Tris takes a photo of Logan and Tobias, and then the couple reverses roles. Another parent offers to take a picture, so they can both be in the photo. They accept gratefully, and the picture is lovely.
When they go to bed that night, Tris cuddles into Tobias's chest. He presses a kiss to the top of her head.
"I sent the picture we took at the school to my parents," she admits to him.
He's confused. She hasn't spoken to them since before Isaiah was born, and before it wasn't frequently at all. They wrote her off when she married Tobias, even her brother Caleb, who told her he'd be there for her when things didn't work out with Tobias.
She hated them for that condition. They said she could have her family back, but only when she admitted she made a mistake in marrying Tobias. She can say to herself now that perhaps they should have waited to get married. She knows he even feels the same way. They don't necessarily regret how their story starts because they are happier with the results now.
"Why reach out now?" he wonders. He also worries. Her family's a sensitive subject. He worries they'll reject her once again and she'll be heartbroken. She doesn't expect much from them anymore, he knows, but he also knows how much she loves them. He remembers helping her through the initial fallout. When the adrenaline of their elopement wore off and they were left with the reality that they were alone in the world. He had no family. His mother was dead, and his father was dead to him. He always hoped her family would come around, so their children could have a bigger family.
"I wanted them to know how proud I am of our family," she says. "It wasn't a mistake."
"No, it wasn't," he agrees. "I'm glad you sent them the picture. I think they need to see it."
"Yeah," she says sleepily. Logan's excitement wore her out today. Both he and Nathan were restless with plans for fun things to do during the summer. Isaiah had also fought sleep so hard tonight.
She thinks Tobias has fallen asleep when he holds her closer and sighs. He whispers, "I'm proud of us too."
Here's a little fluff to make up for my long hiatus! I'm so sorry I haven't written anything in a couple years. Hopefully, my writing isn't too different. I hope you enjoy!