Synopsis: Ely and Otter overhear their younger brother Ethan call Helen 'Mommy' and then they decide that they want to call her 'mommy' too, but they don't know if they should just call her that outright. A sweet moment in which Ely and Otter ask Helen if they can call her 'Mommy'. What is her response?
*set in 2005

William Beardsley (b.1988) - 17 years
Phoebe North (b. May 5, 1988) - 17 years
Christina Beardsley (b.1989) - 16 years
Dylan North (b. June 27, 1989) - 16 years
Harry Beardsley & Jimi/Naoko North (b.1991) - 14 years
Joni North & Kelly Beardsley (b.1993) - 12 years
Michael Beardsley (b.1994) - 11 years
Mick North (b.1996) - 9 years
Lau North (b.1997) - 8 years
Ely/Otter Beardsley (b.1999) - 6 years
Marissa/Bina North (b. December 12, 1999) - 6 years
Ethan Beardsley & Aldo North (b.2001) - 4 years

*Helen's first husband died four years ago
*Frank's first wife died a few years ago.

Six year olds Ely and Otter Beardsley are sitting at the table in the kitchen doing their homework. Their four year old little brother Ethan runs into the kitchen yelling 'Mommy'. At first they didn't pay much attention because when Ethan was two he had called Christina 'Mama' for a short while. They just assumed he was reverting back to that. It wasn't until Ely looked up that he noticed it was Helen who Ethan was calling 'Mommy'.

Ely nudges his twin brother to get him to glance up too. Given that he and Otter were twins, they had a kind of unspoken language, where they could just stare at each other and know what the other one is thinking.

Ely and Otter stared at each other. Almost as if they were both saying that they think they should call Helen 'Mommy' like Ethan is. They were only three years old when their mother died. It wasn't like they really remembered her. Or remembered much about her. And Helen was like their mom now.

Ely and Otter both shrugged their shoulders and then they agonized over what to do for the rest of the afternoon and night until it was bedtime.

Helen was doing her routine bed checks and tucking the younger kids into bed. She was now tucking Ely and Otter into bed.

"You two have been quiet all afternoon. What's the matter?"

Ely and Otter glanced at each other and nodded.

"Otter and I noticed that Ethan calls you Mommy now." Ely said, "And we wanted to ask for permission…."

"We wanted to know if it would be okay for us to call you Mommy too." Otter finished

Helen smiled, "That would be more than okay, so permission granted. Goodnight boys."

"Goodnight Mommy. Love you." Otter and Ely replied

Helen gave them both a kiss on the head, "Love you too."

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.