#bergen_county

"Hey." Her room is a bit messy - laundry on the floor, pile of homework scattered, a rogue basketball...

"Hey." She smiles, but shakes her head at the laundry. "I ought to fuss about cleaning up your room, but I've got something more important to talk to you about"

Snort. "Ain't hurting nuthin'..."

"What's up?"

She takes a seat, cleaning a space if she must.

She's in PJs - flannel pants and, yes, a t-shirt that shows some of her scars.

"I want to oath to you, like you did with your father. Now, this isn't because of the baby. I wanted to do it before I knew about the baby." She says "You ARE my daughter. I love you, but ...well, I know how important the oath was to you with him., and you're important to me too."

A little jaw jut, brows furrowed.

The boon rings true.

or at least doesn't ding false.

"But why didn't you do it before the baby, if you wanted to?"

"Because I thought you might say no... it took you a while to call me mom, and I didn't want to press," She says "And maybe I was worried I might somehow make it seem like I was envious of your father. I am a bit."

"I have a mom..."

"Well, " A breath, "I would say the woman who gave birth to you lost the right to that honorific, but I maybe biased"

She bristles.

"You don't get to talk about her."

Tove stops, and looks surprised, "I'm being too harsh to her ?"

"She..." A frown. "She has problems."

"I wasn't enough, but she wasn't a monster. She loved me."

"She does" A frown "And maybe I am being too harsh."

A look at the "You said 'I wasn't enough'. I don't know if I agree with.. well no, I'll not tell you if you're right or wrong about that. I wasnt' there. Haven't endured what you did. nor what she did I suppose."

"But like you, I've faced some hard times, lean pickings... and like you, I've found a family I never thought I'd have."

She chews on a hangnail. "I wasn't enough. She wanted her drugs more. But she... not everything was bad. Not all the time."

Tove bites her bottom lip, then nods, "Okay." Another pause "What do you think about us oathing to each other ?"

"I dunno."

"Well, how about some time to think about it," She suggests.

"Yeah, okay."

"Okay. " A breath "So, good. I will need your help with a few things... repainting the guest room since I'll be doing videos in the She-Shed."

"...yeah?"

"Am I gonna have to give up sports?"

"Heck no" Alarmed, "your father and I love cheering for you at the games and events. You're good at sports. you like sports! I would never take that away."

"But you'll need help with the baby."

"Actually, I was thinking of your help with baby prep . Help me pick out designs for the room and other things... your shop lessons and the like might help. But as for babysitting? I have no intention of that intruding on your sports. I still think you'll be a great big sister, to a boy OR girl., but you're still young yourself. you have your own life."

A wary look.

The boon supports her. But Tove does sense doubt

"I'm not saying you definitely never have to watch him... or her, but I'll find others to watch the baby when you have sports." She says "We have a lot of friends, thank goodness. And don't forget my secret weapon?"

"What secret weapon?"

"Your grandfather. " She reminds. "You think I won't put that old buck to babysitting now and then you're crazy."

"..I bet he'd like it."

"Are you kidding? He wants to have you over more often....but worries he'll cramp your style you being a wilder and all. " Tove frowns, "Sometimes I worry I neglect dad. "

" was thinking, maybe, like, Connor should spend more time with him..."

"mmm you know, that might not be a bad idea. Connor was a little... jealous of the otherk ids who were here for a time? Margilata and such? "

"Maybe a task checking on Dad would make Connor feel special and keep dad company more often too. Good idea" A smile "Thanks."

"Yeah, well.." Shrug.

"Connor... Connor ain't anybody's special person, you know?"

"Well, Gerd seems to have claimed him as a little brother, but yeah. I know. " Tove says, "But you know that..even if Torin ends up adoring Connor, it won't make him love you any less. you're his grand daughter"

"I... I think everyone means really well..."

"But that doesn't always help how you feel does it?" a tilt of Tove's head.

"I mean, you haven't had a real kid before."

"You're my first" A nod