Family Tree - Hannah has a "boyfriend" and Jackson gets overprotective.

"So, mama and I are going out for dinner…" Jackson tells them from across the kitchen, watching as two his kids eat their breakfast.

It's Valentine's Day. The absolute worst day of the year in Jackson's opinion. The gifts, the heart shaped balloons, the red roses, the cheesiness of it all sickness him. But April asked for one night out just the two of them, having dinner at a nice restaurant downtown, and he couldn't say no. Despite hating the day in itself, he sure loves having the house to himself and his wife. The kids will be staying with grandma tonight. An unusual sleepover perfectly planned and Catherine Avery loved the idea, since she hates Valentine's Day just as much as her son. Staying with the kids was the perfect excuse to avoid going out with Richard and going through the embarrassment of celebrating it in some old fashion way.

"Is mama your valentine?" Noah asks, with his mouth full.

"Yeah, I guess so." Jackson replies, reaching for the freshly made cup of coffee April made before she left. It was his turn to take the kids to school this morning and she had to rush in to the hospital earlier. "Do you have a valentine, Noah?"

"Me? No! But Hannah does."

"She has?"

The seven year old nods, with the big spoon in his mouth as his sister gives him a deadly stare. "She does. Hannah has a boyfriend."

"Shut up, Noah!"

"She has a boyfriend and she loooves him." The little boy teases her, taking the spoon our of his mouth and crossing his eyes to her.

"You have a boyfriend?" Jackson asks, surprised. No! Shocked. His nine year old has a boyfriend and he's only hearing about it now. Putting the mug down, he takes a step, leaning in front of the kitchen counter top, directly looking at his daughter. "Hannah, why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?"

"I saw them holding hands in the playground." Noah continues. They go to the same preppy private school, since education comes first in the Avery household and April was completely against boarding school. Putting the spoon down and swinging his legs back and forth on the chair, Noah leans forward, blowing kisses in the air, playfully teasing her. "I bet they wanna kiss too!"

"Noah!" Hannah snaps, throwing him a hard push.

"Hey, don't hit your brother." Jackson says, pointing a finger at her. Shaking his head, he's suddenly panicking. Hannah is still his baby girl. She's definitely not old enough to have a boyfriend. "Who is this kid?"

"He just moved here from California. He's new in class."

"California, huh?"

"He likes to surf, and he has a skateboard too." Hannah drops one elbow on the table with her head on her hand. Then, looking down at the cereal bowl, playing with her spoon, she speaks in a dreamy tone. "His name is Skyler."

"Skyler?" Jackson asks, narrowing his eyes to his daughter, not able to stop shaking his head in complete denial. "Isn't Skyler a girl's name?"

"He's blonde, daddy!"

"He's blonde? A blonde kid named Skyler?" He raises a brow when Noah speaks, confused. That's unfairly original. Sure, parents can name their children whatever they want, and Skyler isn't the worse thing he's seen. It's a popular name even for boys. But something doesn't feel right. The kid is blonde, probably tanned, with a surfer style and skater boy attitude? "Wait, how old is he?"

"He's ten."

"Oh, so he's older?"

"It's not like he's older old."

Hannah is nine, and Skyler is probably only older for a few months. Still, he doesn't the idea at all. "I don't like this kid!"

"But he's so cool. Oh and he's so handsome too, daddy." Hannah goes on, moving her big, expressive eyes back to her father. "And he told me I was pretty."

"Oh he did, huh?"

"He said my hair was pretty and it smelled good. The other day he gave me a flower." She goes on, smiling proudly. "Karina liked him too. She wanted him, but he liked me better!"

"Did mommy know about this?"

"She did, but she said you'd freak out so…"

In pure and utter surprise, he gulps, not able to hide his shocked expression. Was he the last one to know about this? Hannah, his baby girl, has a boyfriend and his wife kept that from him. Then, it hits him. Jackson shared his first kiss with a little girl his age when he was ten. Skyler was ten, and the memory reminded him that the worst could've already happened. "Did you kiss him?"

"No!" Hannah shyly shakes her head, placing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Good, don't let him kiss you. Ever!" He goes on, with a serious tone and an even more serious stare. "And don't kiss him. Kissing is…"

"Gross!" Noah suddenly shouts, helping his father find the right word.

"Yes, exactly, Noah. Kissing is gross." She's nine. She's too young to be kissing or to even know what that is. It's an undeniable fact that his daughter will do all the things he wishes she wouldn't one day. But for now, he'll still do anything in his power to let her be a child, a little girl, and nothing more than that. "Don't you ever do it, deal?"

"Fine!" Hannah rolls her eyes, jumping from her chair. "I'm gonna get dressed now."

When she leaves, Jackson moves across the kitchen, grabbing his coffee mug and taking a quick sip. Then, sitting on the vacant chair next to his son, he clears his throat, before speaking. "Hey, buddy! Remember when mama told you to be a soldier like her?" April told Noah she was a soldier one night when he was suddenly afraid of the imaginary monster in the closet, and he agreed to be brave and fight his fear like a soldier.

Noah doesn't even look up from the big bowl of colorful cereal in front of me. Instead, he simply nods. "Yeah."

"Do you wanna be a soldier?" Jackson goes on, almost whispering, making Noah a little bit more curious. "A soldier spy?"

"Yes."

"Great! Can you spy on your sister and her boyfriend on the playground?"

Noah finally looks up, taking his time to chew the cereal in his mouth. Then, sitting straight on the chair, he turns to his father, crossing his arms. "What's in for me? Soldier spies need to get paid too!"

"Really?" It's surprising how witty a seven year old can be. Noah Avery, the little entrepreneur always looking for an easy way to make business. "Okay fine! I'll take you out to ice cream this week and that's it-"

"Every day of the week after school." Noah retorts, lifting his little hand up to his father to cut him off.

"No, mom would kill us both." Jackson says, knowing April probably would. Noah, on the other hand, seems determined and ready to put up a fight. "Fine, twice?"

"Deal!"

"Good! Be sneaky, spy on them and then report everything you see to me, okay?" Jackson tells the little boy, who nods, narrowing his eyes and already coming up with a plan in his mind. "And if Skyler tries to kiss her, you kick him."

"On his nuts?"

"No, Noah! Not on his nuts." Jackson quickly says. A kick there would be too much, too painful even for a kid. "On his ankles. That will due."

"But if I kick him Hannah will come after me."

"Run from her if you have to. And be brave. You're a soldier." He says, placing his hands on his son's shoulders, and nodding with assurance. "You'd do anything to protect your big sister, wouldn't you?"

"Yes!"

"Good. Now let's shake on it!"

This was Hannah's first boyfriend, but surely not her last. He knew his daughter was a smart little girl, but even if she got her heart broken, he'd be there for her. And well… her brother would too, armed with his best pair ofJordan's, ready to kick any bad indented boys.

..

Requested by katewillsandezria and iamthawingiwasperfect