Trouble at School {Helen}

[Dash Parr]

Dashiell Robert Parr sat quietly at his desk, slightly drumming the fingers of one hand on his desk, but otherwise not being disruptive. That should have been the first clue he was plotting. He was being too good...

His blue eyes scanned from the chalkboard at the front of the room, where the teacher was still droning on about the math they were learning, to his classmates and their relative attention spans. He had to plan this out super carefully...even with his speed. This was part of what fueled him to keep acting out, though, the challenge. The thrill that he might just be caught!

He...had a few times already.

But, Supers were illegal, there was no chance he would ever get to do what his dad was always talking about (where he could, outside of Mom's earshot) and take down bad guys.

So teachers and annoying classmates had to do.

Dash waited for a break, his fingers stilling, but still sitting still even after that to make sure none turned to him. Fast as he could be, they might still notice something if they were turned at the exact wrong moment.

Luckily the classrooms didn't have cameras, though Dash was fairly certain he could beat one of those too!

And...now! Dash rose, and zoomed from his seat faster than any could catch, eyes locked on his target. Quickly he snatched up the blue chalk, then the green and the pink! He was pushing it! He deposited the first two in the teacher's back pockets, for a mess when he sat down, and took the last, pink chalk over towards Lizzie's desk.

She was just an annoying girl who had annoyed him further last week, hence her getting comeuppance! He planned to write out a defiant note to her on the top of her binder, one she still wouldn't be able to prove came from him, and be back in his seat before she or the teacher noticed any of it!

He...didn't make it.

The backpack at one of the desks was only a fraction of an inch closer than he'd thought it was, but still any obstacle was an obstacle. Dash tripped, tumbling to the floor and actually taking Lizzie's desk over with him along the way and as his momentum slowed.

The whole class stilled and everyone turned to him.

"When'd he get up?"
"He came out of nowhere..."

Images of how bad this could be flashed past. "I...I was sneaking!", Dash tried to curb the first and pretend he had just crept unseen under the desks. Thankfully the teacher didn't seem too preoccupied with the first, and since he had just sat down right before Dash tripped, and now got back up, bringing a hand behind to find the color now on his pants and chair

"Dashiell Robert Parr"

His full name got used a lot.

He didn't say whether or not he could pin the chalk on Dash, but he was still in trouble the boy knew...

<>

Sitting having an almost stare down with the principal, though Dash kept his gaze meek and respectful, while they waited for his mother to come after a call to her was getting to be a familiar feeling. Dash almost felt better when he heard the door. Almost.

"Mrs. Parr, thank-you for coming", the principal nodded, "Sorry it's twice in one week one...".

<<Hehe let me know if you need the Reading of Charges for Helen to go off of, or you can take it for Helen's post. However >>

[Deleted]

Being a super in hiding was easy in a lot of ways for the former flexible superheroine, Elastigirl. Of course, even if Helen Parr was Elastigirl 14 years ago, it didn't mean that there was nothing super or tough about being a stay-at-home mom! She had to be flexible enough to raise two kids with superpowers while keeping her superpowered, pig-headed husband in check. That was no easy feat! Now try juggling all that while pregnant! Although, admittedly, the third time has certainly been the charm as this was the far easiest pregnancy she's ever had, given that she didn't have to deal with any powers interacting her in some way like the other two have been.  

Given her super endurance, the pregnant stay-at-home mom worked on making sure the kids were dropped off at school, keeping the house clean, and then running errands, which mainly consisted of going to the stores for buying some food and supplies for homework or school work that the kids might need, and then things that she might need for the baby that was coming in just a few months. Since Helen wasn't working, they didn't exactly have Baby Showers for stay-at-home moms. They also just moved several months ago, so they haven't been able meet neighbors enough for anyone to initiate any kind of baby shower. Having help from family was also out of the question for reasons that were personal to Helen, and the other supers that she called friends had just suddenly disappeared or had passed away due to unfortunate cape accidents, though she supposed having Lucius Best and Honey, along with Edna would be enough as far as support if she needed it. True, Helen still had a few things saved from when she had Dash, though it was still 9 years ago, and certain things were important to not be on the verge of collapsing when it came to a baby. 

At last, Helen Parr had finally gotten to her appointment with Doctor Sunbright, a doctor that specialized in ones with super powers,* who reassured that the baby was fine despite not showing any signs of powers interfering with her. "Well.. as long as he's happy!" Helen shrugged with a smile as a response to the doctor. She never would've been able to do so many errands with her other pregnancies before. Was this what it was like to have a normal pregnancy? She could get used to this.

As soon as she had gotten home, the auburn haired mother set out food to defrost for dinner and then officially gave herself a break. "Finally..!" Helen heaved a sigh when she finally eased down on the chair to sit down and relax. She placed a hand on her belly and closed her eyes for what felt like a minute or two when suddenly the telephone rang. Helen snapped her eyes opened and glanced at the phone being clung to the wall further away. With a roll of her eyes, the pregnant mother tilted her head back  to stare at the ceiling and groaned inwardly. Ain't that always the way? Right when you're far away is when they decide to call? With a quick glimpse around to make sure the windows were down, Helen stretched her arm to answer the phone. "Hello?" Helen parted her lips upon learning that it was the principal from Dash's school. "Y-oh!" Helen stood up with a bit of a struggle to push herself off the chair, causing the phone to slip out of her hands, which caused her to reflexively grab onto the telephone chord just before it fell completely, picking it up and placing it tentatively by her ear. "Sorry! Yes?"  Her face grew solemn when she began walking closer to the telephone upon learning that the principal wanted to see her at his office. Again. "Oh.. yes, of course. I-I'm on my way." After bidding farewell to the principal, Helen glanced up at the ceiling with a sigh. "C'mon Dash.. twice in a row this week?!" Wait until Bob hears about this! 

"Mrs. Parr, thank-you for coming. Sorry it's twice in one week...".

Helen nodded at the principal upon greeting him at the door as soon as she drove to the school. A part of her wanted to say 'Don't remind me' upon hearing that last comment about being called in twice in one week, but she knew that was just her pregnancy talking and she managed to keep her cool with a sigh. Helen glanced over at Dash for a second before glimpsing back at the principal. "Is everything alright?" The pregnant mother asked gently instead as she meandered over with a wobble before easing over to the chair to slowly sit down, resting her hands on her belly as she listened attentively to the principal.  

"It appears that we've received some news regarding an incident that caused Mr. Burns to be sitting on colorful chalk.."

As soon as the principal turned to demonstrate the picture, Helen glimpsed over at Dash with a scowl before changing her expression back to a calm demeanor. 

"..along with an incident that sent Dashiell colliding with another student and her desk."

"Did anyone get hurt?" Helen demonstrated an expression of concern, hoping Dash or the girl didn't get hurt, though she secretly knew Dash wouldn't have been the one to have gotten hurt. 

"No..not really.." The teacher responded almost reluctantly, which sounded awful but it was only because he didn't want anything to go against his case on what this boy did!

"Oh! Well, that's good. Did you ask how he fell?" Helen asked calmly with a curious raise of an eyebrow, knowing that she would have to just calmly break it down with clever questions. The intelligent super was bound to figure out a way out of getting Dash in trouble without alerting the NSA about it. They could NOT move to another school when they had just moved several months ago!  

(* From the comics that showed Helen going to that doctor when she was pregnant with Jack Jack)

[Dash Parr]

Dash didn't need to hear his mother's responses to know, for the most part, what they probably were, and as he heard the one sided bits from the principal at least. It's not my fault...it's not! His excuses played through his head even prior. It wasn't like he tried and planned to get in trouble while Mom was pregnant even and make her come down to the school "twice in one week".

Why did the principal have to go and make a point of that anyway? It wasn't like it helped.

Dash side-glanced over as Mom hobbled to her seat, and scooted a bit further down in his chair.

"It appears that we've received some news regarding an incident that caused Mr. Burns to be sitting on colorful chalk.."

He was supposed to be sorry. Dash reminded himself of the proper response, but couldn't help the small smile that crept over his face. No one still knew how he did it! And even with a mishap in the planning! Come on! How could Mom and Dad not be proud of that?! Well Dash hoped Dad would anyway.

More than the reminder he was supposed to be sorry, Mom's glance wiped the smile from his face, or made it turn more Your-Cute-Current-Youngest-Son-Who's-Sorry.

Mom was very good at getting him out of these things though (unfortunately for his Learning's Sake) and Dash was grateful for that. And he had been being more careful than it sounded!

Mom's question had the bad effect of the principal now turning to him to ask how he fell. Dash's mind worked fast too though. "I...I was creeping low, so...no one saw me and...tried to sprint and tripped". Please let that be believable...Dad already almost got them caught enough times, Dash didn't need to start...

The principal sighed, he had no choice but to take the answer, "What for?", he asked.

Oh please no...Dash had been hoping he wouldn't have to tell... The principal wouldn't care, but...Mom was another story.

"She...deliberately didn't pick me...for dodge-ball on the playground...". Dash was allowed to play recess games, of course, but not all out competitive sports...maybe for paying back insults in such a manner...and because, as Mom no doubt knew, they'd dodged a bullet and his not being picked was better for them since he would have taken the bases far too fast in a bid to show off and win.

The principal looked puzzled, then sighed again. Boys vs. Girls. "And the chalk?".

Dash shrugged, "I don't know maybe he left it in his pocket".

It was clear the boy was only going to admit to the one crime. The principal sighed again.

"You can take him home now Mrs. Parr, we'll have a seminar for the kids on getting along later".

Dash made a face.

<<Hope I didn't take it too far, if you want the principal to draw out the meeting I can take out the last bit>>

[Deleted]

"It appears that we've received some news regarding an incident that caused Mr. Burns to be sitting on colorful chalk.."

Of course, her son, Dash, seemed all too pleased with himself upon hearing this announcement. Helen Parr tried really hard to hide the rolling of the eyes that she otherwise would have done if it weren't for them being in the principal's office right now! She was almost glad that her glare that she managed to steal a second to give him settled that matter. The problem was, her little boy knew that he was cute, but this wasn't helping, Dash!

The auburn haired mother turned her attention over to Dash, watching him quickly come up with a response for the principal. She wasn't surprised at all by his quick answers, either, given that she was a stay-at-home mother that watched him grow the most. If there was anything positive about all of this, it was that Dash always was quick on his feet, literally and mentally - once he got the jist of what he needed to learn, that is. If only Dash would just apply that to school instead of wasting time doing all of this! Was that too much to ask? Regardless, just because he could come up with things to say quickly, it didn't mean that they were the right things to say.

"She...deliberately didn't pick me...for dodge-ball on the playground..."

Upon hearing any kind of sport, like dodge-ball, involved, Helen tried really hard to prevent her face from making a deadpan expression. She KNEW that Dash would be this way when it came to sports. He was too competitive! The pregnant mother placed a hand on her belly to keep herself calm, trying to inwardly keep cool on the outside. She wasn't about to say anything against what Dash said. All that mattered was what the principal believed. "Dash is a really competitive boy, but even he's been taught on the rules about equality," Helen added to Dash's defense. "Are you sure your playground is safe place for our children to be playin' fair?" She posed the question gently to the principal, though it was a disarming comment that would call to question whether the children were being treated fairly. Based on the way Dash made it sound, it sounded as if the girl was intimidating enough to avoid her and sprint off like that, though Helen secretly had to admit that was a better way of making the girl seem rather than the "manly" way of going about it. She wasn't going to give Dash any praises though.

"And the chalk?" The principal went on.

"I don't know maybe he left it in his pocket" Dash added quickly.

"Hang on. I just wanna make sure I understand this. Did Mr. Burns manage to see Dash use the chalk? Otherwise, how does he know it's him?" The pregnant mother posed another, more pertinent question, "All because he fell to avoid this girl?" Helen asked, glancing between the teacher and the principal. It sounded so far that there was no proof of this incident being tied into Dash, and if Mr. Burns didn't have any solid proof, then that meant that Dash was innocent - so to speak. Innocent enough not to move schools for it, but he was definitely not getting away with it at home.

"You can take him home now Mrs. Parr, we'll have a seminar for the kids on getting along later".

"Thank you so much for takin' the time to sort this out," Helen thanked the two gentlemen as she placed her hands on the arms of her chair and pulled herself out of the chair. A sigh escaped her lips as she waddled slightly over to the car, made sure that Dash was secure in the seat and then started the car as soon as she was strapped in. "Dash..That's twice in a row this week! What in the world is goin' on?" She asked her little boy as she drove the car, just wanting to get straight to an answer for why this was happening more than it needed to. They were driving home since Dash was dismissed early, then she'd pick up Violet later after she had a talk with Dash.

[Dash Parr]

Dash could feel his mother's gaze on him, and tried very hard not to squirm and give himself away...

Mom didn't say any of the things he knew she probably wanted to (and which she would in the car) as he admitted to the reasoning for his getting Lizzie back. Sports were fine for other kids, but he couldn't be trusted not to show off. Of course Mom realized he needed an outlet, though not as much as she would later and as his school troubles only got worse, not better. If he could behave maybe he could prove himself able to handle the competition; but he couldn't behave...because he couldn't play sports as an outlet!

He was in a Catch 22 for sure!

Mom placed a hand on her stomach, and Dash reminded himself he was not supposed to be stressing her. Well, he wasn't trying to! Yet, Mom was an expert at answering principals by now...thanks to him.

"Are you sure your playground is safe place for our children to be playin' fair?"

It took all Dash had not to grin as he turned back to the principal, but still recalled to look like a sorry child in trouble, hiding his smug thoughts. Ha! Take that!

Of course Mom was doing all of this, and covering for him, for their sake, and to spare the family, not just him...and he was still going to be in trouble later.

Mom must have been a top negotiator too, though, in the days when she and Dad got to beat up bad guys, because even Dash, who knew the real story, was inclined to believe her version she put out simply by asking the questions she did.

He wanted to stick his tongue out at Mr. Burns as they stood to go after Mom "fixed it", but didn't. Of course there was the sound of some boring seminar to sit through, but he could handle that. Or he wasn't worrying about it right now.

He had other worries anyway as they drove home.

"Dash..That's twice in a row this week! What is the world is goin' on?"

"It wasn't my fault!", the boy began, trying to not sound too whiny, but sounding adamant on that fact. Of course he knew that was not the best way to start off, sounding like he was shifting blame. Sighing heavily he sat back and crossed his arms, "The other kids just don't get it, being a Super; no one else gets it, since we can't show it".

Dash let a pause sit and then answered Mom's question. "Lizzie said I couldn't hit the ball far enough to be on her team...but I wasn't being competitive!", he sat back up to add, knowing that was what it sounded like, and so that was what Mom would think. "I wasn't! I just...". He didn't have a better answer.

"I dunno why I put the chalk in Mr. Burns' pocket...", he went on in a softer tone, shrugging as he glanced off. 'I just did".

Truth be told, he just didn't want to say why he had. Mom knew anyway. To prove he could. Even if just to himself.

[Deleted]

"It wasn't my fault!"

"Dash.." A sigh interrupted Helen's response while she tried to refrain from rolling her eyes, but she certainly looked up at the ceiling of her car for a brief second before making the turning signal to get into the lane. She didn't feel like responding to that. Dash would always say the same thing about it never being his fault. How was this any different? Still, she at least was going to hear him out. His real story.

"The other kids just don't get it, being a Super; no one else gets it, since we can't show it".

The pregnant mother driving the car frowned slightly, her brown eyes stealing a glance over at her little boy crossing his arms with that adorable pout of his. She wasn't going to tell him as much, but it did make her feel bad when she thought about how tough it was for a boy his age to hide it. She had to hide it, too. But for her, it was from her own parents. How many times had she wanted to show off to her own parents for them to be proud of her abilities, but couldn't? "I know it isn't easy, sweetie.." Helen responded quietly, her eyes staring straight ahead with a reminiscent expression. It was all she said about the matter, never delving into her own life story. It was another thing Helen kept hidden inside, just like her elasticycle or her mohawk days. Instead, it sounded like a generic response that sounded like she knew because it was hard for everyone not to show their powers in general, and not because she lived through it in her own life story.  "But you know why we can't show it, Dash..we've already discussed this!" She said instead, though it was softly instead of the firm way she wanted to go about it. Maybe it was because of her pregnancy that she just felt like being softer about it, but she still wanted to remind him why it was important to keep it hidden for the sake of their family not moving so many times!

"Lizzie said I couldn't hit the ball far enough to be on her team...but I wasn't being competitive!"

"Dashiell Robert Parr.." Helen shook her head and shot Dash a knowing smirk, one that was of playful disbelief that Dash was anything but competitive. It seemed that Dash knew what she'd think too, because he went on to defend himself further. 

"I wasn't! I just...".

The retired superheroine paused when he did, her playful smirk disappearing from her expression as she glanced over at him staring out at the window.  

"I dunno why I put the chalk in Mr. Burns' pocket...I just did".

The expecting mother blinked her brown eyes in surprise. Well, at least he owned up to it. For that, she was proud of him. Dash always had a way of lessening her anger on him, she wasn't sure if partly that was because she reminded him so much of Bob. "..I know that was hard to admit, sweetie. I'm proud of you for owning up to it." She smiled over at him warmly. It took a lot for even an adult to admit that. She would know, given that Bob was even pigheaded about doing that sometimes, though getting Bob to admit these things was far more painful to watch given how hard it was for him to admit it in the first place. "Dash, I know how much you like to show off and that you can't say no to a challenge.. And when you weren't taking challenges, you were always setting records for yourself!" The stay-at-mother recalled, knowing her son fully well given that she was there through all of his moments of growing up. He was always pushing himself since he even knew what pushing himself or what setting records meant. "...but you just can't do these things in public. You know why we can't," The auburn haired mother didn't feel like she had to repeat this discussion over and over again as to why they had to hide in public. She knew her son knew better. "What if Mr. Burns figured out a way to catch you?"  Helen posed the question to him, wondering if he understood the extent of what the damages could be to this family if that happened. While she kept her eyes on the road again, she placed a hand on her pregnant belly upon feeling the baby kick. "We just can't afford to be making these kinda choices right now.." She couldn't expect Dash to understand how it was like to be under stress while pregnant, but she hoped that he would understand that moving around right now was not the best thing - it wasn't the best thing in general to move, but especially so while she was this far along in her pregnancy. If the baby were to show powers like Dash or Violet did, then the last thing she needed was to be in the spotlight or to have any kind of stress. So far, thankfully, it seemed like everything was going as smooth as possible, she just didn't want something like the stress of moving to cause that to show powers in any way.  

[Dash Parr]

Dash could tell his mother meant her words, on knowing how hard it was having to keep their powers secret, but he of course supposed she only meant in the general way that they couldn't tell others. Mom never said much on her parents, and Dash couldn't imagine what it must be like to not be able to tell your family, having always been able to to tell his.

"But you know why we can't show it, Dash..we've already discussed this!"

Still with his arms crossed, Dash nodded. Yeah he knew...it was dangerous...he could jeopardize the family, they could have to move...

The boy did feel a twinge at this, and subtly glanced back over to his mother, when she wasn't look at him. He shouldn't make them have to move when she was expecting, he reminded himself. He and Vi would have a little baby brother, she'd said. With the type of child he was, competitive and all, it could be expected that Dash would have had trouble with the news that he was going to be an older brother.

With news that he would no longer be the baby of the family, but...while that would take some adjusting, Dash just remembered being overwhelmed by one overarching thought. He could show him everything! Someone who was going to be impressed by all that Dash could do! Someone he could show the ropes of being a superhero to! And the right way, not like what Vi would no doubt tell him. Dash could set him straight after their sister said her confusing stuff!

But all of this, and Mom expecting, was why they really couldn't afford to have to move right now...

Dash let that thought sit as he went on to admit to what the trouble at school with Lizzie had been.

"..I know that was hard to admit, sweetie. I'm proud of you for owning up to it."

Dash gave a small smile, loosening up his posture, though the smile fell again, if just thoughtfully as Mom went on.

"Dash, I know how much you like to show off and that you can't say no to a challenge.. And when you weren't taking challenges, you were always setting records for yourself!...but you just can't do these things in public. You know why we can't,"

"Yeah...I was listening when you told me and Vi you were gonna need help now with expecting the baby", Dash told her, his soft tone oddly sincere, though that was ruined a moment later.

"What if Mr. Burns figured out a way to catch you?"

Dash smirked and...it was no doubt that healthy sense of self his father helped cultivate and that he took too far. "Oh I'm too fast for that!", he assured, before looking serious again.

"We just can't afford to be making these kinda choices right now.."

"I know Mom...and I am sorry, honest", Dash said. "Ok, so next time Lizzie gets on my nerves I'll just remind myself I'm not letting her get to me 'cause I have to be a good big brother and not have us have to move". Even if these reminders were easier in these moments then when classmates were being annoying...

But now that they were on the topic, Dash brightened, and went on, maybe partly to change the subject before they got to anything like grounding, "Plus I get to show the new baby stuff and how to use his powers! That'll be fun!", Dash said, before remembering that Mom was supposed to go to the doctor's soon. "Hey, did you ask the doctor yet? What kind of powers he'll probably have?", Dash asked, curious. "Of course it doesn't have to be speed, I could probably help him use anything I'm sure!", Dash went on.

[Deleted]

"Yeah...I was listening when you told me and Vi you were gonna need help now with expecting the baby",

As she drove to their house, the soon-to-be-mother of three blinked her brown orbs over at Dash upon noting the rare tone of sincerity in her little boy's voice. Truth be told, sometimes she did wonder if he did listen to her, but it turned out that he does listen a lot more than she expects him to be. Perhaps it's because she's always thinking that he's like his father, whom she feels doesn't listen most of the time. Ever since he retired from superhero work, it almost felt like Bob would tune himself out to the rest of the world when she needed his focus to be in the present moment, like with his family! Who knows? Maybe things would change once the baby arrives in a few months.

"Oh I'm too fast for that!"

Helen shot Dash a deadpan expression with her eyelids hovered half-mast. Even though it was secretly cute, Helen was never going to tell him as much, especially when that cocky attitude was not in the least bit reassuring to her that Dash was never going to get into trouble with Mr. Burns again. If she were ever curious as to how Bob must've been like as a kid, she was almost sure Dash was living proof of such an answer.

"I know Mom...and I am sorry, honest. Ok, so next time Lizzie gets on my nerves I'll just remind myself I'm not letting her get to me 'cause I have to be a good big brother and not have us have to move".

A relenting sigh escaped her lips, deciding to accept his apology. "Thanks, sweetie," She said with an appreciative smile upon knowing that he truly was listening to her. Well, at least Dash seemed to understand the concept. A lot more than Bob did or cared to admit, anyhow.

Even the tough supermom found it difficult to listen to Dash's hopeful words about the baby's powers after just finding out today that it was possible that the baby wasn't going to have any. It didn't occur to her how accepting of it she was, given her own upbringing with her parents not having powers. She had no idea that this was actually going to be so far from her family's minds, that now was when she was starting to worry about Bob's reaction to their baby not having powers. "Yeah..About that, Dash..Uhm.." Helen chewed her bottom lip for a minute, suddenly feeling a guilty knot form in her throat. She couldn't help but feel that this was her fault. Not that she minded in the least that her baby wasn't going to have superpowers, but she hadn't considered how everyone else's reactions would be; even worse was that it was just going to open a whole can of worms as to why it was her fault, and talking about her non-powered parents wasn't what she wanted to discuss. She left them and didn't look back for a reason; she was fine on her own for a reason. Somehow, against her wishes, the pregnant mother found her eyes blur with tears filling her brown orbs as she gave a hard stare at the road in front of her. Her hands tightened at the steering wheel, dreading to bring that subject up. She'd rather leave the past in the past.    

"The doctor said that everything's fine, so there's nothing to worry about!" Helen managed to say reassuringly without letting a tear fall, but the tough mother kept her eyes straight on the road to focus on making sure that those tears never would. Stupid pregnancy hormones. She wanted to reiterate that everything was fine, because everything WAS fine and everything WILL be fine. Whether someone had powers or not was absolutely fine! At least, it was for her..  

The auburn haired mother parted her mouth to say something, and then closed it again. This sort of talk was so unprecedented, that she had no idea how to even go about sharing this information. She would normally prefer to talk about these sort of unprecedented things with Bob first, but maybe telling Dash first would be a good thing, if only to see how his Father would react. A sigh escaped her lips upon thinking of something positive, the way she always tried to do for herself. Taking time to gather her thoughts, she finally managed to speak again, "Dash.. I just want you to know, that no matter what happens.. he's still your little brother. You know that, right?" A sigh escaped her lips, thinking that it sounded a little vague or foreboding. She decided to change tactics. "Remember in those cartoon shows, where they tell you to expect the unexpected? Well, that's because sometimes things happen that we don't expect..and we just have to be prepared for anything.." The law against supers was definitely a big one that she and Bob were never expecting. Having their kids grow up under this law was definitely far from what they would have wanted or expected to have happened. 

Finally, Helen parked the car in the driveway. "We'll talk more inside, sweetie. Don't forget your backpack!" She reminded her little boy as she carefully stepped out and closed the door. "Just because ya had to leave school early doesn't discount you from doin' homework, Dash. I'm still calling the teachers to have you do the missing work tonight along with your homework," She added as she locked the door and followed Dash behind to unlock the front door to their home, making sure that Dash knew that he wasn't off the hook. Of course, the intelligent stay-at-home mother was going to make sure that her son wasn't going to be far behind. Helen believed that leaving school early because he had gotten in trouble shouldn't be rewarded with less work in any way! It was going to be a lot more work with make up assignment plus homework also included, but the devoted mother was always willing to help Dash figure it out without giving him the answers.

[Dash Parr]

Dash just shot his cutest smile to Mom's knowing looks. He knew it wouldn't get him out of trouble, but it wasn't for nothing, and she soon let up, at least a bit, with her typical sigh. Since no doubt she knew this wouldn't be the last talk of theirs. Dash did try to behave though!

As he next rambled on about the baby and his powers, Mom looked hesitant as she went on. "W-what is it?", Dash asked in a small voice.

"The doctor said that everything's fine, so there's nothing to worry about!"

Well how was he not supposed to worry when she said things like that?! Mom's further answers didn't help! Dash vaguely remembered to grab his backpack as Mom said and slung it halfway across his shoulders as he caught up to her.

"Just because ya had to leave school early doesn't discount you from doin' homework, Dash. I'm still calling the teachers to have you do the missing work tonight along with your homework,"

"Yeah, yeah, ok", Dash said as they entered the house, dodging like he normally would, but with a good reason this time, though it was still dodging. "But what about the baby? What's wrong?", he paused all but in the doorway and turned towards his Mom.