(October 1997)

There was something about swinging that made me feel better. I wasn't sure if it was the wind in my hair, the pumping of my legs or the fact that it made me feel on top of the world. Most likely it was a combination of all three.

Whatever it was, I had long ago realized, in all my Grade 4 wisdom, that it was one of the things that took me to my happy place.

I closed my eyes and smiled. I could hear Lincoln chirping at Gabriel the entire way across the school ground, his voice was grumpy as he spat out variations of ,"all I'm saying is I don't know why we have to come this early."

He was trying to use his big brother voice, which Gabriel hated and I couldn't help but feel my day get better, knowing that the Sawyer boys were about to join me.

Spending time with Gabriel and his brothers was another one of those things that took me to my happy place. In this moment I also found them more than a little bit funny because, Gabriel had the hardest head of anyone that I knew and Lincoln wasn't going to be able to talk him out of anything. Once Gabriel put his mind to something, he would make sure it happened.

Declan walked slower behind the boys, not engaging in their nonsense. He might be younger than all of us but he was the most observant. Declan would have already realized that once Gabriel had made up his mind about something, he was on a mission. Lincoln hadn't yet learned to choose his battles with his middle brother. As a result, the two oldest brothers were constantly butting heads and much to Lincoln's annoyance, Gabriel actually listened to Declan way more.

Even now, he quietly listened to his older siblings, tailing behind and giving me a sweet smile when his eyes met mine on the swings. Declan didn't miss much, and so he would know just like me, that there was a reason why they were here so early this morning. Gabriel had known that I was going to be here by myself and wanted to make sure I had company.

My Dad was on the road for a string of away games and as such my Nana had me for the next week. It wasn't that Nana was shirking her responsibilities or that she couldn't take care of me, it was just that she was a little bit older and I was sometimes a lot.

It was a combination of her traditional values and my energy that had her drop me off at school as soon as possible every morning. It made sure that I was on time, ready to learn and then she also didn't have me running around her house all morning.

So, on days where my Grandma had me and my Dad was on the road, I got to be the first kid at school. Gabriel had noticed and so on these mornings the Sawyer boys were always the second kids at school.

He got to the swings and tossed a paper bag at me, landing it right on my lap. As he sat down on the swing next to me, he gave me one of those smiles that made all the tiny butterflies in my body dance, and said, "Mama Sawyer made your favourite blueberry muffins last night. I snagged you one this morning."

Lincoln, who had already been so mad at him, looked outraged, "you told me there were none of those left!"

I couldn't help but giggle at the two of them, Lincoln was only a year older than us but he always wanted to boss Gabriel around. This made Gabriel constantly want go push his buttons.

I reached in the bag and took out the muffin, slowing down my swing as I broke it in half and handed over some of the goods to Lincoln who gave me a smile around a mouthful and asked, "Josie here yet?"

Gabriel snorted at the fact that his brother was enamored with our other best friend but didn't call him out about it, instead he said, "no one else is here yet you doofus."

Lincoln grinned evilly and said, "So why are we here Gabriel?"

Gabriel blushed because he never fully came right out and said that he was adjusting their schedule so that I didn't have to be alone but we all knew it. It was just one of the many reasons why he was my favourite person and I quickly changed the subject in order to save him any more Embarrassment.

A/N- I loved writing the adult versions of the Sawyer boys but I swear the kid versions are almost as good! Let me know what you think...

Does it seem like an okay time jump? Should I give more time to their childhood/less time??