jhale326: "I was wondering if you could do a story about the Avery's celebrating the 4th of July?"

So I already did a TGO 4th…and I tried to do a more "festive" or "traditional" 4th for Julian but it didn't really work… this was my first idea and though it's not a traditional fourth it will end up sweet I think.


100 Encore, Day 49: "Protect You"

"You ready to watch fireworks, bud? Come on let's go out on the balcony, we can use the telescope! Your favorite!"

Julian nodded but sighed as he followed his mom and sister out. "Why daddy had to work at night again?"

"Oh because people are silly and there are a lot of accidents tonight. It's good to have a plastic surgeon on call, trust me."

"What gon' happen mom?"

April helped him pull up a chair to kneel on and use the telescope. She shrugged. "They might get burned or hurt their fingers and we know daddy helps with that, right?"

He nodded and looked through the telescope just as the first firework burst. He gasped. "These hurt people?" he turned to his mom, wide-eyed.

"Not us sweetheart, you know that. You've seen fireworks. Just sometimes they hurt the people who set them off. That's why we will always just watch, right?"

"Yup. I don't think we should be out here, mama," he confessed, when another firework went off.

"Why? They're cool right. Pretty?"

"Yeah but they go 'bang' an' scare the baby."

"Honey, she's right here sleeping in mommy's arms. She's so quiet right? Such a good baby. Both of you were. We got lucky."

A set of fireworks went off. "When daddy will be home?"

"Well, it's a 24 hour shift and he got there at four. So, he'll be back tomorrow at four. Right before dinner. But we got to have fun with him all day! The pool with nana and grandpa was fun and those cheeseburgers they made us were so yummy."

"Yeah. Afer the pool, when we gotted out he telled me 'take care of our girls, J!' I hafta protec you an' Bowen from the bangs…we go inside now, mom!"

Julian got down from the chair and started inside. "Jul, you don't have to protect me, bud. But we can go inside if you're scared. Are you scared?"

He shook his head way too fast. "Nope but I wanna go inside."

April sighed and followed him in. "You want an ice pop? I was gonna bring them out while we watched the fireworks."

"Yeah. And we can watch a movie astead of fireworks! It will be fun mama! You can pick the movie!"

"I can pick? Wow!" she said, taking the ice pops out of the freezer. "No 'Toy Story' ok? How about…'Lion King' tonight?"

"Good choice mom, I will put it on!" He ran to the living room to search through the DVDs.

"Here you go bud, come snuggle with me…" She handed him an ice pop when he crawled next to her on the couch. "Aren't these awesome? The red, white and blue rockets? Your dad has to have these every 4th of July."

"Yeah, they his fave! You packed one fer him?"

"No silly! It would melt. There's some left tomorrow night. It was a good idea to take a shower after the pool, right? Mommy was right? You feel cozy in your PJs and safe away from the fireworks?" Julian nodded and moved closer to his mom. He loved his new sister but he was happy she was in the carrier so he could cuddle.

"You know it's OK to be scared, right? Daddy gets scared sometimes."

"Of what?" Juian looked up, lips blue.

"Oh he wakes up from nightmares sometimes and I give him kisses. You can ask him about them one day." April knew the nightmares were about the shooting, an she wasn't above bending the truth a little bit. But this was Jackson's truth to bend.

"OK."

"Jul, you know those fireworks weren't going to hurt you, right? Mommy would not let anything hurt you. It's mommy's job to protect you, silly goose."

"I know mom. I just didn't like da bangin'. It more fun inside here watchin' a movie. I like outerspace but not bangs."

"OK, babe. Glad you told me that. You can tell me an daddy anything right?"

He nodded but didn't stop giggling. "I not your babe, daddy is."

"Oh you're right, sorry."

"Mom, when dad gets home we should make him waffles fer dinner OK?"

"With whipped cream and blueberries and strawberries so they're red, white, and blue?"

"Yeah. An' Ice pops fer dessert."

"You're always lookin' out for your dad, huh?" she smiled.

"Yeah and our girls too. I havin' a good time with you mommy."

"Me too bud, me too," April kissed his forehead, brushing the curls fro his eyes.

"But now we quiet so we can see the movie, you picked it."

She grinned. Mommy always got in trouble for talking during movies, even when only daddy was there. "OK, we'll both be quiet now."