A/N: I go more off canon here (well possibly, we don't even really know some of these details). I also don't pretend to be an expert at the transgender stuff so that's why I'm not going into huge detail with how it all works but still obviously mentioning it. Hopefully this makes sense. I think the reason Charlotte isn't more like let me out of Radley is just because she's been there for so long she kind of accepts it. And she accepts that her mom knows best. It's almost stockholm syndrome-ish in that sense but yeah, that's why she doesn't fight it more!

Chapter 3.

"I hate being a boy," Charles grumbled, "My body is going through all these gross changes."

"You know, if you go through the therapy… your body will go through a lot of changes too," Jessica watched her son closely, "Girls at your age go through lots of changes too. It might be really hard for you, Charles."

"I know," Charles smiled, "I read all the brochures. Twice."

Jessica sighed, "Of course you did," she smiled, "You really want this, don't you?"

Charles nodded, "Yes," he said quietly, "Am I a disappointment, mommy?"

"No," Jessica said quickly, "No, of course not, honey. I just need to be sure this is what you really want because it's a very big decision."

"I really do, mom," Charles said firmly, "I even know what I want to be called. Charlotte!" he smiled, his eyes determined.

"Charlotte," Jessica echoed before smiling, "It suits you."

Jessica couldn't give her son much, but she could, and would give him this.


Jessica was surprised at how easy it was for her to see her son change into her daughter. Maybe it was because he… she, Jessica corrected herself, had never seemed happier than now.

"Are you feeling okay today?" she asked, as she pushed open the door.

Charlotte looked up from her book, "I'm okay," she smiled.

"Good," Jessica sat down on the bed, "Because I bought you something special today."

Charlotte put her book down and looked at her mother curiously, "A new dress?" she guessed.

Jessica smiled, "Yes," she pulled it out, "But I thought you'd like to wear something a little more fitted now that your body is starting to change."

Charlotte looked at the dress, "It's still not…" she sighed.

"It just takes time, honey," Jessica squeezed her hand, "But you really have changed a lot. Look at your beautiful hair," she ran her hands through it, "You look so beautiful. Now go on, put it on."

Charlotte hesitated before grinning and grabbing the dress out of her mom's hands. She quickly wriggled her small body into it, pleased that it seemed to hug her shape more than any dress ever had before. She beamed at her reflection.

"I love it!" Charlotte exclaimed, running a hand down her side, "My body really is changing," she said quietly.

Jessica smiled, playing with her daughters' long, blonde hair absently, "It is," she agreed, "Are you happy, honey? I know it hasn't been easy and I know it's a slow process…"

Charlotte turned around to face her mom, "It's okay, mom. I'm really happy. I finally feel more like… me than I ever have. I'm just glad you've been with me through it," she quickly wrapped her arms around her mom, "I love you so much, mommy."

"Oh, darling, I love you too," Jessica squeezed her daughter tight, "And I always will."

"I have to go back to Radley, don't I?" Charlotte's smile faltered.

Jessica sighed, "Not yet, honey… " her mind drifted, "But yes, soon."

Charlotte nodded sadly, "Okay," she smiled a little, "You know best."


Charlotte tried to concentrate on the book in her hands but she couldn't. She knew her mom would take her back to Radley soon. She supposed her mother knew best. She looked at the door. Her mom wasn't due back until tomorrow. Sometimes she had to leave Charlotte alone for days. Usually Charlotte hated it, but tonight… tonight, she had a plan.

She'd never broken a promise to her mom before and it made her nervous as she snuck out of the hotel. She felt like she was being watched but she knew she was just scared. A breath of relief left her as she got out onto the street. She'd almost expected some nurse or doctor to emerge from the hotel lobby and drag her back to her room.

But they didn't. She squinted at the unfamiliar street for a moment, recalling the car trip from Radley to her home of the last while. She was thankful for her photographic memory and she set off on her way.


"Is Aunt Carol getting better, mom?" Alison asked.

Jessica smiled, "She's getting much better now," she explained, "She'll be just fine."

"Hmm, then maybe mom will be around a bit more," Kenneth sounded a little passive aggressive.

Jessica nodded, "I will," she agreed.

"Cool," Alison shrugged, pulling her phone out as she wandered off.

"It's been all year Jessica. You're gone all the time – "

"She's my sister, what am I meant to do?" Jessica answered sharply.

Kenneth put his hands up in defence, "Okay, I'm just saying we miss you. We miss being a family."

Jessica bit her tongue, "So do I," she said quietly.


Charlotte's eyes widened. She never knew Jason smoked. How would she? But there he was, blowing smoke out his bedroom window. What a gross habit, she thought, and how different he looks. Very handsome.

Then there was a quiet pitter patter and she covered her mouth as she gasped, ducking down. She'd recognise her baby sister anywhere. By the looks of it, she wasn't the only one sneaking around tonight. She wondered where Alison was sneaking off to. Was she old enough to like boys? Was she going to see friends? She looked happy. She looked pretty.

She dared to move a little closer and follow her sister through the yard. She ran a hand through her own long, blonde hair. They looked like real sisters now, she thought happily. A twig cracked underfoot and she hid behind a bush.

Alison turned around. Charlotte held a hand over her mouth, trying not to make a sound. Alison's wide eyes scanned the bushes. Charlotte felt something tickle her leg. She looked down to see a spider crawling up her leg and let out a gasp. Instinctively, she swatted it away before thinking about the noise she made.

Alison took a step backwards and quickly ran to the back door.

A moment later, Jessica appeared in the yard with a bright torch. She stood on the patio and shone it over the bushes.

"Hello?" she called.

Charlotte bit her lip anxiously.

Jessica lowered the torch but after thinking for a moment, raised it again as she stepped further into the yard.

"Charlotte?" she asked in a more hushed tone this time, "Is that you?"

Charlotte hesitated before hanging her head and emerging from the bushes.

"I didn't mean to scare her, mom," she said quietly, "She didn't see me, I promise."

Jessica looked back towards the house and pulled her daughter into the bushes, "Like you promised to stay at the hotel?"

Charlotte flinched at the anger in her mom's tone, "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I just wanted to see them, mom. They're my family."

Jessica sighed, "I know, sweetheart. You're just lucky Alison found me first, if your father…"

Charlotte scoffed, "What father?"

Jessica couldn't blame her daughter for that, "We need to get you back to the hotel," she decided, "Just… wait here for a moment, okay? Don't move. Promise?"

Charlotte nodded sadly, "I promise."