A\N: Here's the next chapter in my story. It may be the last chapter I post in a couple of months as I'm starting a new full-time position at work. Right now the postion only goes until March but it could be extended. I will try to write whenever I can though. It helps to know that all of you are so patient and understanding.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize I made up. The Denver Hill Academy is, as far as i know just a figment of my imagination. If it somehow does exist I don't own it.

Spoilers: None

Warinings: None

Chapter 25

Oliver added one last item to his list. As he placed the pen back on the table, he saw a blur of blonde hair run down the back-porch steps. He wasn't at all surprised to see Julia hadn't even seen him as she rushed to go and play on the swing set with her brothers.

"Hi," Shane sat down in the chair next to her husband and handed him a Yoo-Hoo, "How was uniform and Kindergarten shopping? Did you get everything done on your list?" She added with a little laugh. Today was the day before school started in Denver and the boys would be going to Kindergarten For the previous two weeks Oliver had been making a list of things they needed to do or get done before the boys started Kindergarten.

"Good. How was your morning with Julia?" Oliver inquired.

"You're going to love this," Shane smiled, "Julia! She called out to her daughter, "Come tell Daddy what your new favourite drink is?"

Julia jumped off her swing and rushed over Daddy I love Komba smoothies," She claimed as she gave Oliver a hug, "They're yummy. Mommy says we can make them."

"It is pronounced Kombucha smoothies Julia," Oliver corrected her, pronunciation "I am very glad you like them. What other foods did you try while shopping with Mommy?" Oliver asked.

"Tea. I don't like it," Julia shook her head, "It tastes bad. Can I play now?"

"Yes sweetheart," Oliver watched as Julia went running back to the swing.

"I saw Matthew and Lucas had already hung un their uniforms," Shane commented. The school Lucas and Matthew were going to be attending was called The Hills Academy. It was a rather expensive school, but it had most of what Shane and Oliver were looking for in a school. One of the things they'd like was the uniform selection children could from. The school colours were red and beige, and boys could choose to either wear a red shirt and beige pants, a red sweater vest with a beige tie and beige pants or a red long sleeve shirt with beige pants. All of the uniform items had the school crest on them as well. Oliver and Shane had let Lucas and Matthew choose out their uniforms at the school store the previous weekend and today they were going to pick them up. Since Julia had wanted to get uniforms as well the previous weekend and had ended up crying, Shane and Oliver decided it would be best to keep her busy while the uniforms were being picked up.

"Well I believe Matthew hung his and Lucas' up," Oliver informed his wife, "So for tomorrow I suggest we leave Julia at my father's house before taking the boys to school. That way we can focus our attention on them rather they worry that Julia is going to want to stay."

Shane nodded her head, "Yeah that's a good idea. I just wish I knew why Julia wants to go to Kindergarten so badly. I know she's close to her brother's, but she has friends she plays with other then them. I don't know if its behaviour or fear- "

"You're not going to Kindergarten!" Shane stopped talking just in time to see Lucas push Julia down and yell at her, "You're a baby! Kindergarten isn't for babies!"

Julia got back up on her feet and began hitting Lucas, "I'm not a baby!" She repeated as she kept hitting him, "Mommy! Daddy! I'm not a baby!" She looked at her parents with tears in her eyes as they came to sort out the situation.

"Julia, stop hitting your brother," Shane gently scolded her. Once Julia had stooped hitting Shane reached out to take her hand, "Let's have a talk alright." She took her daughter into the house and up the stairs into Julia's bedroom.

"Mommy I want to be a big girl," Julia pouted as she started to cry again.

Shane knelt down so she was at her daughter's level. "You are a big girl. You're not a baby. That wasn't a nice thing for your brother to call you. You're just not old enough yet to go to Kindergarten. I know you are old enough to know not to hit.

"I'm sorry,' Julia lowered her head, "Mommy I 'm sad," She began to cry again, "I don't want Mattie and Luke to leave."

"Julia, Shane began carefully she wanted to make sure her daughter would be able to understand what she was saying, "Lucas and Matthew going to Kindergarten will change some things. They're only going to be at school from 9:00-4:00 every weekday. After school every day you and Grandpa are going to go and pick them up and then you can play with them. Before you know it, it'll be next yea and you'll b going into Kindergarten then you'll get to pick out some of those nice uniform dresses and skirts. When you're in Kindergarten maybe you and your brothers cane ride on a school bus. How woukd you like that?"

"I love that!" Julia grinned, "I'm going to wear the red dress every day!" Julia proclaimed.

"That's something we'll worry about next year. Now this year you're going to be with your Grandpa alone almost all day. Won't that be fun? I'm sure tomorrow he'll take you to the park for most of the day."

"Okay Mommy," Julia smiled a little bit more, "Can I go back outside?"

"Yeah," Shane knew her daughter was still sad, but she wasn't sure what else she could do to comfort her. "Let's go back outside."

"Julia! Julia!" Matthew and Lucas both ran up to their sister as soon as they saw her, the began talking at the same time.

"One at a time!" Julia yelled as she put up her hands, once her brothers had stopped, she pointed to Matthew, "Mattie first!"

"Do you want me to take one of your dolls to school tomorrow? Or I can draw you a picture? He offered.

"You can be my show and tell!" Lucas told her excitedly, "You just have to stay in my backpack until show and tell on Friday."

"Lucas," Oliver looked at him, "I said we'd ask your teacher if Julia could be your show-and tell. However, if the answer is yes, she will not be staying in your backpack. She will come to school with Grandpa for show-and-tell and then she will leave with him after it is over. She will not be allowed to stay.

"I want to do that Daddy!" Julia said with voice filled with happiness, "I'll show Luke's teacher I'm fun tomorrow!"

"Julia, if you come to take the boys to school you cannot stay. It cannot be like last week for the visit. Your mother and I will not tolerate any wrong behaviour."

"I'll be so good Daddy!" Julia promised as she smiled up at him, "I'll be best."

Shane looked at Oliver and smiled a little. Julia already knew how to get what she wanted from most people. Especially her father and grandfather. As Shane wondered what that could turn into in her pre-teen and teenage years, she began to get a little worried. However, she knew she had a long time to worry about that.

"If you misbehave Julia expect to be severely punished," Oliver warned, "Your brothers and lots of other children are going to be worried and scared. You need to be very well behaved and patient."

Julia walked into The Hills Academy Junior School holding onto her father's hand. She looked around at all of the different things on the wall and smiled at any adult who smiled at her. She stayed silent as her parents and brothers talked to the Junior School Headmaster and walked with Matthew into his classroom. She remembered the classroom from before but this time she stayed close to her parents as Matthew walked solely into the classroom. He was greeted by his teacher and he gave her a nervous handshake as he started to cry.

"Matthew, I know you're scared, just take a deep breath. Remember your teddy bear is in your backpack. If you need him, he's there but the school doesn't allow home toys. I am sure you'll be able to find lots of toys to play with and some children to play with."

"Yes," Matthew's teacher nodded her head, "And you'll be able to see Lucas outside on the playground." She confirmed. There were four Kindergarten classes, two at both main entrances to the school. To make pick-up and drop off for the family easier the school had but Lucas and Matthew into Kindergarten classes besides each other.

"We'll play together outside," Lucas smiled at his brother.

Matthew slowly nodded his head as he hugged his parents and then his brother and sister.

After exiting his brother's classroom Lucas darted down the hallway and found his cubby. "My turn!" He hung up his backpack "Bye Mommy, Bye Daddy bye Julia!" H ran into the classroom to start playing.

"I don't think Lucas will have any problems adjusting," Mrs. Rubin Lucas' teacher told Oliver and Shane as the entered the classroom with Julia.

Before Oliver or Shane could respond Julia finally spoke up, 'Hi! I'm Julia! I'm four and cute and watch!" She began to jump and spin around in circles. "I come to show and tell please?" She asked politely.

"Lucas was hoping he could bring Julia as his show and tell on Friday. We understand though if children are not allowed to bring siblings" Oliver filled the teacher in on what Julia had been talking about.

"I've had students bring in their baby siblings for show and tell. I don't see why Julia can't come. She'll have to be with one of you or another guardian though," Mrs. Rubin explained.

"Grandpa can bring me!" Julia shouted excitedly, "Guess what! I come to Kindergarten next year!" She smiled, "You be my teacher?"

"We'll have to see about that," Mrs. Rubin smiled, she lived the little girl's energy level, "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk to other parents." She excused herself and went to talk to other parents.

"I was very good," Julia looked up at her parents and smiled proudly.

"Yes, you were," Oliver confirmed, "I'm very proud of you."

"Mommy, Daddy look!" Lucas reached out and pulled his parents over to the writing center, "It looks like your work," He pointed to the various writing utensils and each child's assigned drying rack. "I can write lost letters." He smiled happily.

"You can write letters, but you don't want them to end up in the DLO. That means it didn't get to where it was supposed to go on time," Shane explained. "Why don't you practice writing you name, and you can show Mommy and Daddy after work tonight." Shane was happy Lucas was showing an interest in writing as he hadn't yet.

"Okay," Lucas nodded his head then went to sit on the carpet as the teacher called all of the students over.

Waving one more time at Lucas Shane and Oliver left his classroom, on their way out of the school they looked into Matthew's classroom and smiled as they saw he was helping the teacher out with attendance. The teacher was calling out names and then handing Matthew a name tag to give to the child.

"I think both of them will be just fine," Oliver told Shane as they walked out of the school and back into the parking lot.

TBC

A\N: Please review :)