Roy is 15, Connor is 9, Artemis is 5, and Mia is 2.

Chapter 19: Mother's Day

Roy's POV

Ollie walked ahead of Connor and I with Mia on his hip and Artemis holding onto his hand. We eventually ended up in a jewelry store. He sat Mia on the counter and picked up Artemis as he let the girls pick out something to give to Dinah for Mother's Day.

"Roy?" Connor asked as I looked down at him.

"What?"

"Are you going to get Dinah anything?"

"I already got her some perfume."

"Didn't you get her that for Christmas?"

"Connor, I bought like twenty bottles of te stuff like two years ago. I give her the same thing for every holiday."

"But why are you even getting her something for Mother's Day? She's not your real mom."

"And you're not my real brother." I replied as a look of hurt crossed his face. "Artemis and Mia aren't my real sisters. Ollie's not my real dad… But, that doesn't mean we're not a family."

"But… My real mom is-"

"Gone." I finished as he looked at the floor. "Look… I know you miss her and Dinah isn't her… But who takes care of you when you're sick? Who always comes to your soccer games? Who helps you with your homework? Who-"

"I get it!" he snapped.

"Dinah's not your real mother, but she's a mom that she doesn't have to be."

He didn't respond. The only sound was Artemis screaming, "Gross!"

We both turned to find Ollie and some saleswoman panicking as Artemis ran over to us.

"Mia just shoved a diamond bracelet into her diaper!"

I guess we know what Ollie's buying.

********Break********

Dinah's POV

My eyes snapped open as Ollie yelped. I sat up to see that Artemis had taken a running jump for the bed and had landed in an uncomfortable position for Oliver. She crawled over to me as Mia toddled in holding onto Roy's hand.

"Happy Mother's Day!" Artemis screamed in my ear as Roy plopped Mia into my arms before he curled up on the foot of the bed and grumbled, "Yeah whatever."

"Thank you." I replied as the girls shoved pictures and a present into my face.

"Oh, what pretty pictures! Thank you girls." I replied, hugging them.

"Here, Dinah." Roy said as he tossed a present at me.

"Open them, Mommy!" Artemis squealed.

"Shouldn't we wait for Connor?" I asked as said child slipped into the room.

Connor was pulled into the bed by Oliver. He held a rectangular object crudely wrapped in newspaper in his hands.

"He's here. Open them so you can make us breakfast." Roy grumbled as I shook my head at him.

I opened his present first and pulled out a bottle of perfume… Again? I already have like thirty bottles of the stuff under the bathroom sink.

"My favorite perfume. How thoughtful. Thank you, Roy." I said as he shrugged.

"Yeah. You're welcome. Whatever."

I opened the present from the girls next and pulled out a very beautiful and extremely expensive diamond bracelet.

"Oh girls! This is beautiful!" I exclaimed as Oliver leaned over and whispered, "And I'd love to see you wearing it and nothing else tonight."

"We'll see." I smirked before swatting him away.

I took Connor's present last and unwrapped it to find a picture frame with a picture of all of us inside.

"Oh Connor… This is beautiful. Thank you."

He shrugged as he leaned back against his father.

Less than a second later the doorbell rang.

"Who in the-"

"Oliver!" I hissed.

"-Heck is that?"

"Go find out." I groaned as Artemis jumped off the bed to answer the door. "Oliver, go get the door before she escapes again."

He took Mia with him to get the door. I was left alone with the boys. Roy had already fallen asleep. Connor sat beside me and occasionally swiped at his eyes.

"Connor, what's wrong?" I asked, pulling him closer.

"I miss my mom."

"Oh baby… I know you do. And it's okay to miss her. But, she's in a better place. And you'll see her again."

"Sometimes, I wish I could see her now." He whispered as I wrapped my arms around him.

"I know you do, baby… But, I hope you don't see her for a very very long time. I'd miss you way too much. You're my only sane child. If you weren't here, I'd be stuck with Roy and your dad as my only boys."

"But… Dad's not your son."

"No. But, he can be very childish… I love you, Connor. You know that, don't you?"

He nodded as he hugged me back. I wiped at his tears.

"Dinah!"

I looked up to see my mother coming into the room holding hands with the girls as Ollie followed behind them carrying her stuff.

"Mama! What are you doing here?" I asked.

"It's Mother's Day, dear. I'm here to spend it with you and my adoring grandchildren… And why is one of them asleep?" she asked before smacking Roy's hip and exclaiming, "Get up! It's almost nine in the morning!"

Roy groaned as Mama turned back to Ollie.

"Oliver! Why are you still standing there! Put my things away in my guestroom! And if you happen to find a razor, shave that hideous thing off your face!"

He grumbled under his breath before haling her stuff down the hallway.

"Dinah, you could have done so much better." She chided.

"Mama, we've talked about this… Happy Mother's Day." I replied as I hugged her.