Tender Moments Drabble #21: Consent
This Tender Moments Drabble incorporates the prompt, “You’ll always be safe with me.” from the Soft Sentence Starter List assigned to me by @darley1101
Please note: I have slightly adapted this prompt to better align with the context of this drabble. The adapted prompt is listed below in bold and italics.
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Returning from a grocery store shopping trip with Simone, five-year-old Zora runs into the living room looking for her daddy. “Daddy, where are YOU?”
“BOO!” Maxwell jumps out from behind the couch after hearing the pitter-patter of her shoes down the hallway.
Startled, Zora jumps back in surprise. “There you are, daddy!”
“Did you have a good time shopping with momma?”
“No, daddy.” Zora shakes her head sadly. “Momma wouldn’t buy me any candy.”
Unbeknownst to Zora and Maxwell, Simone has joined the two of them in the living room after working with Gladys and the kitchen staff to get the groceries out of the car and put away.
“Zora is mad at me, Max. I told her no to candy because she already has so much leftover from Halloween and I didn’t want her to have any before dinner.”
“Are you mad at momma?” Zora moves her head in a vertical motion to signal her displeasure.
“Can I have a hug? Maybe that will make you feel a bit better.” Maxwell outstretches his arms and Zora runs into them willingly, Maxwell picking Zora up to carry her over to Simone.
“Momma and I care about your health and making sure you have a balance of sweet stuff like candy, but also healthy stuff like vegetables and fruit. It’s our job as your parents to make sure you have both. Do you understand?”
“Yes, daddy.” Zora nods her head in understanding.
“Do you understand why momma said no now?”
“Yes, daddy.”
“Can you give momma a hug?”
“No daddy. I’m not ready.”
“Maxwell, it is perfectly fine,” Simone interjects, looking at Zora with a smile on her face. “I want her to have autonomy over her body and that starts with me respecting her wishes about not wanting to hug me at this moment.”
“You hear that, Zora?” Maxwell hugs his daughter. “You will always be safe with us to make decisions about your own body.“
"Max, I’m heading into the kitchen to make dinner.”
“What are we having?”
“Tacos!” Zora shouts, beating Simone to answer. “Momma knows it’s my favorite.” Zora puts her hand over her tummy and rubs in a circular motion.
“Zora, would you like to help me in the kitchen?”
Zora signals for Max to put her down. “Yes, momma,” Zora reaches for Simone’s hand for them to walk into the kitchen. Halfway there, Zora tugs on Simone’s hand causing her to pause.
“Yes, baby?”
Zora leans into and wraps her tiny arms around her mother’s leg. “I’m ready to hug you now.”
“And I’m ready to receive your hug.” Simone bends down and picks up her daughter, holding Zora tightly to her chest. Zora nestles her head in the crook of Simone’s neck on the way into the kitchen to help her momma make dinner.
Tag List: @riseandshinelittleblossom @ladynonsense @pixieferry @bobasheebaby @ao719 @indiacater @itsbrindleybinch @hopefulmoonobject @cora-nova @mfackenthal @alj4890
This is canon. I’ve always thought Maxwell was made to be a father to a little girl and these drabbles continue to prove it. I love how his sense of fun always coincides with doing whatever is best for Zora. He and Simone are the perfect tag team of parents. So much sweetness in this family 💞
unearthlydust
