Thank you all for the reviews and follows! I think this topic is definitely worth writing about. I've mulled over this chapter all day long; I have to admit it was incredibly difficult for me to write. Trying to explain things to a 6 year old who is much more intelligent than your average 6 year old is still a challenge when it comes to writing it, especially since I have never had this talk with anyone myself. Some of you may question the depth of Leo's intelligence... for the purposes of this story, he does have a very advanced vocabulary and reading level for his age. I tried to imagine Maura at that age and that's what I came up with. I hope I didn't overdo it:/ Enjoy the chapter!


Since Leo shared more of Maura's interests than Jane's, Jane thought it would be a better idea if Maura approached the situation as opposed to her first. They had agreed that they didn't want to make him feel pressured by having them both sit and talk to him so Maura got him bathed and ready the following morning to head to the bookstore.

She came into Leo's room after she'd gotten herself ready and found him immersed in a book.

"Have you thought about what kind of books you want to get today, Leo?"

"I don't know mommy, I haven't thought about it. I just know I want to get the next Harry Potter book for sure."

"Mama should've gotten you the series; I knew you were going to like it. You're reading "The Sorcerer's Stone" right now, is that right?"

"Yes. It is very entertaining! Ron and Harry are finally friends with Hermione!"

"Why weren't they friends with her before?"

Leo put the book aside and looked down at his hands. Maura sat next to her son, brought her hand up to his chin and lifted his little face.

"Leo? What's wrong? Why were they not friends before?"

"They didn't like her before because they thought she was too conceited."

"Why is that?"

"It's because she's the smartest witch of her age." Leo replied solemnly.

Maura finally understood; at least one of the problems. How she had neglected to see it before was beyond her. She'd gotten teased and bullied her entire life because of her intelligence; how could she not see her son was going through the same thing?

"Leo, being intelligent doesn't necessarily make one conceited, son. In fact, there are very kind and friendly people who are quite bright, just like Hermione and just like you!"

"But it wasn't until she defended them that they saw she wasn't conceited, mommy."

"There are occasions in which it takes time, sweetheart."

"Why?"

"Because people sometimes don't know how to behave towards someone different than themselves."

"Oh."

"Leo, are there children at school that behave like Ron and Harry?"

"The kids at school never want to play with me, mommy."

"Why not sweetheart?"

"They say I'm different."

"Of course you're different sweetheart, everyone is."

"They say I'm different than them. That I think I'm special because I'm smart."

"Leo, you are a very intelligent and highly capable boy for your age. You can do things that other children can't yet, sweetheart, and that's why they don't understand. That doesn't mean you are bad. You ARE special, but you are also humble. Do you know what that means?"

"It means that I'm not conceited, mommy."

"You are my son. Your mama and I are very proud of you and the little boy you have become and we love you very much. Never let anyone make you feel any less because you are different."

"Mommy what does 'abomination' mean?"

"Where did you hear that word?" Maura asked, taken aback.

"Timmy's daddy said you and mommy were an abomination."

Maura stopped dead in her tracks. Anger began to course through her veins and she had to work hard to keep her composure and stop the tears from falling. So here was an adult, another PARENT, telling their child that she and her wife were an abomination and that undoubtedly trickled down to her son's mistreatment at school. It took her a couple of minutes for her to come up with an answer.

"Sweetheart, an abomination means something that is disliked a great deal."

"Why did Timmy's daddy say that mommy?"

"Darling, there are people in our lives that don't like people who are different than they are."

"Why not, mommy?"

"Because they don't know how to behave with someone who doesn't like or do the same things they do. You are different. You are incredibly intelligent for a boy your age. Your mama and I are different too."

"Why?"

"You know how Timmy has a mommy and a daddy?"

"I don't have a daddy."

"No darling, you don't. You have mama and myself."

"Why don't I have a daddy?"

"Timmy's mommy and daddy love each other very much. They love each other so much that they got married. Well, Mommy loves mama so much that we got married."

"So I'm not going to have a daddy?"

"No baby, you're not. That's another reason you're so different from all the other children. I want you to understand that this doesn't make you any less. You're still an incredibly gifted, special little boy who is capable of loving and playing and learning just like everyone else at school. Do you understand that?"

"Yes mommy, I do."

"Mama and I were thinking of going to the playground later today, would you like that?"

"Yes mommy! I want to go on the swings and on the monkey bars!"

"Ok darling, let's go get your books and then we'll stop at the playground on the way back."

"Mama is coming too?"

"Do you want mama to come along with us?"

"Yes! She swings me up high!"

"Ok baby, why don't you go ask mama to go play with us?"

"Ok mommy." Leo rose from the bed and ran out of the room in search for Jane leaving a very worry-stricken Maura behind.


So we've found the root of the problem... where to go from here?