"Mommy," Mason wrinkled his nose as he held the bouquet of roses away from him and sneezed.

"Bless you," Levi muttered, looking at his older twin with disappointment.

"These flowers are making me sneeze," Mason complained.

"Do we have to bring flowers on the first day every year?" Theo groaned as he adjusted the straps of his bookbag.

"Levi, give Mason a napkin," Daisy sighed. "And you two. Stop complaining. It's nice to give flowers on the first day. Your teachers will like you."

"They already do," Theo reminded his mother.

"Thanks to Dad's fat checks," Levi mumbled as he handed his brother a napkin. "Don't touch me with your snot."

"Are we all ready?" Daisy stepped back after one last sweep of Theo's hair to make sure it stayed in place. "Stand together. I want to take a picture."

"Here comes the mugshot, boys," Theo groaned with an eye roll. "Against the wall everyone."

"Can you all pretend to be happy?" Daisy clicked her tongue. "Bunce of miserable prisoners. Smile, look alive. I don't want a prison lineup."

"Dad doesn't make us take pictures," Mason said as he followed Theo to the wall.

"And Dad doesn't walk us to the door," Theo added.

"I like you walking us to the door, Mommy," Levi looked up, his glasses on the tip of his nose. "It reduces the risk of getting run over."

"Getting run over by what?" Mason snorted. "The speed limit here is like five."

"Just let me take the picture!" Daisy snapped her fingers. "We still have to walk Lily to class. Hurry."

Groaning, moaning, and complaining, the boy stood in line and looked at their mother's phone.

"Thank you," Daisy said as she snapped a picture of her sons in their new uniforms. "And now can you smile so it doesn't look so depressing?"

"No," Theo stepped away and headed for the entrance. Mason followed while Levi straightened up and smiled.

"Thank you, baby," Daisy laughed as she took the photo of the little boy. "Now hurry in. Follow your brothers and have a wonderful first day."

"Bye, mommy!" Levi waved as he hurried into the school with his bookbag bouncing up and down on his shoulders.

"Bye, baby!" Daisy blew him a kiss and watched until they all disappeared inside the school. When she could no longer see them, she let out a long sigh. "Three down, one more to go."

Turning on her heels, Daisy headed back to the car. She waved to the other mothers as she passed them knowing very well she was the topic of discussion at all of their parties and lunches. Daisy could feel their jealous eyes on her like hot honey. She knew they were intimated by her. She was the least bit bothered. The only time they really got under her skin was when they eye fucked Luca at every school event.

"Good morning, Mrs. Silvano."

Daisy looked up as one of the mothers waved to her.

"So good to see you. You look beautiful," the woman smiled brightly. "Was that your husband I saw in the car?"

Daisy wanted to roll her eyes, "Yes."

"We're having a back-to-school breakfast meeting this morning. You and Luca should definitely join."

"We would love to," Daisy lied. "But it's Lily's first day of Kindergarten and she's having a rough morning. Maybe another year."

Before the woman could reply, Daisy flashed her a final smile and walked off toward the parking lot. She spotted Luca's car and quickly made her way over to the driver's side and opened the door.

"How did it go?" Luca looked up and slowly stroked Lily's back while she lay on his chest, hugging him like a koala.

"They hate taking pictures," Daisy complained. "How's it going for you?"

Luca chuckled. He pulled back just enough to look down at the little girl crying on his chest. Pushing back Lily's hair, Luca sat her up and kissed the top of her head.

"You ready to go in, mama?" Daisy asked, cupping Lily's face and looking into her eyes. "It's your first day. It'll be so exciting."

"I don't want to go," Lily pouted.

"I know you're scared, baby," Daisy took her little hands and placed them over her heart. "Mommy is scared too. And daddy is scared. It's okay to be scared sometimes. But we also have to be brave."

"That's right," Luca agreed. "And don't you want to show off your new bookbag, your new shoes and your new pencil case?"

"No," Lily rubbed her eyes. "I don't want to go."

"Why not?" Daisy asked gently. "What's bothering you?"

"The other kids won't like me," Lily whispered. "And the boys will be mean to me."

"They wouldn't dare," Luca pulled her closer. "Theo, Mason, and Levi are all there. You will see them at lunch and if anyone bothers you, you can tell your brothers."

"How about this," Daisy smiled. "If you can be my brave girl today, Daddy will take us all out for ice cream after school!"

"Mmmm," Luca laughed. "And we can go to the Disney store and buy you a new princess costume."

"The Elsa one?" Lily asked quietly, poking her head out like a shy turtle.

"Yeah," Luca nodded. "Does that sound good? Ice cream and Elsa?"

Lily thought about her parent's offer. Her little face scrunched up like her mother's often did as she chewed on her bottom lip and deliberated her options. After some time, she slowly nodded her head.

"You're going to have so much fun!" Daisy laughed with relief as she tickled Lily's belly and helped her out of the car. "You are brave, you are smart, you are strong. Come on, say it with me."

"I am brave," Lily said in her little voice as she clutched her mother's hand tightly and looked around at the school parking lot. "I am smart."

"You are strong," Luca added, taking her other hand.

"I am strong," Lily said a little louder.

"You are kind," Daisy added.

"I am kind," Lily smiled.

"You are loved," Luca smiled with a tenderness that made Daisy's heart swell up. They looked at one another as Lily began to break out of her shell.

"I am loved," the little girl said as her parents lifted her up.

"You can do hard things," Daisy took Lily's backpack from Luca and handed it to her.

"I can do hard things," Lily said before taking a short pause. "Sometimes."

"And for the times when you can't," Daisy crouched down and turned her daughter to face her. "I will be right there to help you, my sunshine."

Lily smiled, her green eyes filling with trust and warmth. Daisy held back her emotions as she kissed Lily's cheeks and stood back up. She did not want to frighten the girl with her tears. As soon as she stood up, Luca leaned over and stole a small kiss.

"I love you," he whispered.

"And me?" Lily looked up.

"I love you even more," Luca laughed, scooping her up into his arms. Lily squealed and giggled as she held her father's face and he flooded her with kisses.

"I love you, too, Daddy," Lily beamed with joy. The sound of her laughter filled Luca with happiness he could not describe.

"How much?" He asked.

"This much," Lily swung her arms over her head like a rainbow.

"And mommy?" Luca asked.

"This much!" Lily created a rainbow once again.

"And Zia?" Daisy asked.

"This much!" Lily laughed, making another rainbow.

"And Rose?" Luca asked.

"More than everyone!" Lily declared. "When will Rose start school, mommy?"

"Soon," Daisy said as Luca sat the little girl down on her feet. "Aunty Gigi wants you to be a brave girl so you can teach Rose all about Kindergarten."

"Can you do that, sunshine?" Luca asked, fixing Lily's dress and brushing back her hair.

"Yes," Lily nodded.

"Alright," Luca sighed. "Let's go inside then."

Lily quickly ran to Daisy's side and took her hand. Luca followed with the bookbag and lunch box as they walked their daughter to her classroom. At the door, Lily hesitated, her big eyes surveying everything and everyone with caution before the teacher introduced herself and showed her to her seat.

Luca and Daisy hung back with all the other parents as the children began their day and soon forgot all about their first-day worries. When it was time for everyone to leave, Daisy blew Lily a kiss and reminded her about the ice cream. Lily happily waved her parents off, not knowing her mother would cry all the way to the car.

"She's going to be just fine," Luca comforted his wife as he held her in his arms in the parking lot.

"I know," Daisy sniffled. "It's just.....she's my baby. And now they're all in school and then Theo is already acting like a moody teenager. Mason and Levi are next. They're all going to leave us."

"Baby, they're not going anywhere," Luca chuckled. "They'll always be with us. Especially, Levi."

"Oh, my sweet boy," Daisy waved her hands to dry her tears. "Can we pick them up early?"

"No," Luca shook his head. "We had them all summer. Today, you're mine. I have plans for you."

"What do you mean?" Daisy chuckled, wiping the last of her tears.

"Let's go home and I'll show you," Luca kissed her ear. "Or we can get started in the car."

Daisy gasped, "Sir!"

Luca laughed as he hooked his arm around her waist and carried her to the passenger side. All the other mothers in the parking lot watched as the couple got in their car and drove off, leaving a sea of envious gazes lingering on them.   

Hope you liked it :)