Summary: Crystal and Gigi take Daya to her first ever pride.
A/N: Here’s my fic for Pride Bingo! I chose parade <3 ao3 link
“Are you almost ready?” Gigi shouted from the living room as Crystal made her wait as she finished up applying her makeup.
“Yeah! I just need to finish putting on my eyelashes!” Crystal yelled back, trying her best to hurry so they could leave. It was a rare occasion that Gigi would be ready to go before Crystal was, but she was running a bit behind because she had misplaced the busy button up she had planned to wear under her overalls.
“Okay, I think I’m ready!“ Crystal announced as she finally emerged from their shared bathroom, hair and makeup finished. “I hope we aren’t too late; I don’t want to ruin Daya’s first pride by being stupid old Crystal.”
The two girls had gone to pride together every year since they had gotten together. It was a tradition, and this year would be extra special because her half-sister, Daya, had come out to them a few months prior and they both wanted her to join in on it.
“You won’t. She loves you and I could hear her excitement over text when you invited her to join us.” Gigi pressed a kiss to her girlfriend’s cheek, handing Crystal her own mini lesbian flag. The ginger had gotten a mini trans flag for herself, two little lesbian flags for them to share, and a tiny pansexual flag that she would give Daya once they had picked her up. “Let’s go get her.”
The ride over to Crystal’s parent’s house included them blasting queer music, exchanging kisses at stoplights and talking about they wished they were able to do things like that when they were younger since both of them had come out officially during their first year of college.
When they pulled into the driveway, Daya was sitting on the front steps, ready to go.
“Has she gotten even taller since the last time I saw her?” Gigi whispered as they watched the teenager run up to Crystal’s Subaru.
“I don’t know. Probably.” The green haired girl replied as Daya climbed into the backseat. “Hi, Daya! I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. You need to stop being so busy with school all the time so we can hang out more. Hi, Gigi!”
That sentence made Crystal’s heart sink. Daya was barely ten when the green haired girl graduated high school and the art school one town over had become her main priority, she had felt like she had missed a huge chunk of her baby sister’s life. “I just saw you at your middle school graduation last week!”
“I heard you didn’t dress up for it.” Gigi chimed in, reaching into the backseat to hand Daya the pansexual flag she brought for her. “How come?”
“Thanks, Gigi. And I didn’t know I was supposed to dress up!” She defended herself, making the older girls snicker, “Even if I did know, I still wouldn’t have put on a stupid dress.”
“Fair enough,” Crystal chimed in, making Gigi gasp.
“You both are so weird. I love dressing up!”
“Daya, she’s started designing the dress she wants to wear at graduation. A yearin advance.” The Latina enlightened her younger sister, making her laugh. Gigi rolled her eyes, and Crystal knew why since she had gone into great detail about how fucking fantastic the ginger would look in the dress once she finally got around to buying the fabric and making it.
The drive downtown was enjoyable, Crystal had missed spending time with her sister. It was a huge bonus that Gigi and Daya got along well. The two girls talked about sewing, the younger girl telling the ginger how she had made a stuffed bear out of fabric scraps while Crystal struggled to find a good parking spot that was close to the city block that had been marked off for pride.
Parking the car, the green haired girl turned back to look at Daya. “Are you excited?”
“Yeah! This is so cool!” The younger girl squealed, grabbing her backpack and her mini flag, “I can’t believe you two wanted to hang out with me.”
“Of course we want to hang out with you, you dork. You’re my baby sister and Gigi has no other friends.”
“Hey!” Gigi yelped, reaching across the center console to pinch her girlfriend’s side, “That is not true! I have tons of friends.”
They went back and forth for a while until Crystal remembered that it wasn’t just them and that Daya was in the backseat. After that, they finally exited the car and made their way down the street and to the event, the two holding hands as the fourteen year old walked ahead of them, waving her flag around.
“I think she likes that little flag more than what I got her for her birthday,” Crystal observed, Gigi squeezing her hand tighter.
_
The three explored the area together, hitting up all of the stops before the parade started. There was a smaller stage where local bands, dancers and drag queens would perform, which was Crystal’s favorite part of pride. Her and Gigi would usually spend most of their time standing around and enjoying the music and performances, but they wanted to make sure Daya experienced everything.
The younger girl was really drawn to the vendors, which was a mix of actual businesses owned by people in the community and rainbow capitalism. Being a baby gay, Daya did not know the difference but Crystal tried to sway her towards checking out the things that the queer owned businesses were selling.
After Daya had bought a bigger flag to hang in her bedroom and a couple of pins to put on her leather jacket, Gigi dragged the sisters to a booth where a younger girl was selling crochet animals with pride flag colors. Crystal gasped while picking up a lesbian pride opossum while a pansexual axolotl caught Daya’s eye.
“These are the cutest!” Daya squealed, jumping up and down in excitement. Crystal immediately matched her half-sister’s energy.
When Gigi had finally picked up a trans jellyfish, she ended up buying the sisters the animals they were holding as well. That was the first time in the three years they had been dating that Crystal had seen Daya hug Gigi, and it made her heart melt.
Not that she had doubts that her half-sister would get along with her girlfriend, but the girl with green hair was really glad they liked each other, especially because she was planning on Gigi becoming her fiancée before the year ended.
After buying some food, the three made their way back over to the stage, where Daya was left memorized by a drag queen who had done an amazing number. Gigi quietly explained tipping to the younger girl, Daya pulling a couple of one dollar bills out of her backpack and stuck her arm out for the drag queen to grab as she made her way around the stage.
People started lining up on the streets as they threw their plates in the trash, The girls ended up standing by a group of girls decked out in pride themed clothing, and Daya started interacting with a talkative blonde girl wearing a trans flag as a cape who appeared to be around the same age as her as they waited for the floats to come down the street.
Crystal gave Gigi a knowing look after the blonde started complimenting every single thing about Daya, the two watching as the brunette grew flustered.
The parade started soon after that, Crystal and her family watching as the colorful floats passed by along with people carrying pro-gay and trans signs along with flags. Loud music had started playing as well but somehow, the girl Daya was talking to was able to talk over it.
After the parade, they had done everything, so Daya and the blonde said their goodbyes before parting ways.
“Jasmine gave me her number! She went to the other middle school but we’re going to the same high school in September!” She babbled excitedly as they made their way back to the car.
“That’s great, Daya. Did you have fun?” Crystal asked, figuring that this was what Gigi dealt with whenever she got too excited.
“I had even more fun than I thought I would have! Thank you so much for bringing me.” She wedged herself in between the couple, wrapping her arms around the older girls. Crystal couldn’t remember the last time she had seen Daya this happy, and neither could Gigi. Thus, her baby sister’s first pride was a success.
A/N: Found families my beloved. This is both for the Pride 2022 challenge and May Mayhem Tropes (day 19). Part of the Jankie Parenthood Universe, featuring Lemon as a reluctant last resource babysitter, and Gigi as the judgiest kid ever. Some background about this universe: Lemon, Jan and Jaida are (step)sisters, Jan is dating Jackie, Jackie is Gigi’s mom. Gigi is five, and the sisters are all in their twenties.
Tags: rpdr fanfiction, may trope mayhem, lemon, gigi goode, jaida essence hall, jan sport, found family, kid fic, jankie parenthood au, mar-@duckprintspress
Summary:
“You can’t get a new babysitter?” asks Jaida.
“Not one we know. We can’t just leave a five year old with a stranger,” Jan says.
“Well, who else is left?”
A little notification chimes from Lemon’s phone. Both of her sisters turn to look at her, and Jan’s face lights up.
“No.”
“Lem, please,” Jan says, sitting down next to her sister as if to better plead her case. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“Wiping kids’ butts and feeding them beet puree is not my idea of a good time.”
“How old do you think Gigi is?”
“Alright. No, I– no, don’t worry, honey, feel better.”
Jan hangs up the call and groans, throwing her head back.
“What?” Jaida asks from the couch, where she and Lemon are spread in an unmoving pile. They collapsed on the couch after their respective dance classes and have not moved since.
“Freaking flu season.” Jan drops her phone on the table. “Both of our babysitters are sick, and now there’s no one to watch Gigi tonight. We’re gonna have to cancel.”
“No,” Jaida says, grunting as she gets up from the couch, ignoring Lemon’s protests. “You’ve had those tickets for months! You both need a night out, just adults. It’s healthy.”
“What else can we do? Pri’s busy, Jackie’s dad is sick too, and Shea and Sasha are still in Mexico.”
“What about Brita?”
“I already asked, she’s helping her sister paint the nursery.” Jan rubs her neck, thinking. “You are not free tonight, are you?”
“I would, you know I would,” Jaida says, taking her hand. “But I promised Nicky I’d model her dresses so she can finish them. You can’t get a new babysitter?”
“Not one we know. We can’t just leave a five year old with a stranger.”
“Well, who else is left?”
A little notification chimes from Lemon’s phone. Both of her sisters turn to look at her, and Jan’s face lights up.
“No.”
“Lem, please,” Jan says, sitting down next to her sister as if to better plead her case. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“And I wouldn’t say no if I could help.”
“We’ll pay you.”
Lemon rolls her eyes at the ‘we’. It’s like in everything Jan does lately, Jackie is included.
“It’s not about the money, Jan.”
“What is it, then?”
“Wiping kids’ butts and feeding them beet puree is not my idea of a good time.”
“How old do you think Gigi is?” Jaida says.
“Whatever, all kids are the same. I don’t even teach the tween classes because I don’t wanna waste my precious energy screaming at them to stop being little shits.”
“But this is not a normal kid,” says Jaida. Jan slaps her arm. “You know what I mean! Gigi’s special. Other kids, yeah, you gotta stop them from bouncing off the walls and covering your couch in Nutella, but Gigi’s different. She just wants to paint her pictures and read her stories. Maybe play dress up. You love playing dress up.”
Lemon uncrosses her arms, though her scowl is still present.
“Some conditions: I’m not playing any dumb game were I have to be a unicorn that poops rainbows, or whatever kids do.” She sits up and digs her pointer finger in Jan’s chest. “No games, no dumb songs, no letting her draw on my face. Got it?”
“Got it. And Gigi likes playing by herself. This is more supervision than care, really. At most, you’ll have to make her a sandwich.”
“I can make a sandwich…” Lemon says, her voice small.
“I know you can,” Jan smiles, encouragingly. “So you’ll do it?”
“Ugh, fine! But this is a one time thing, and you owe me.”
“Yes!” Jan engulfs her in a suffocating hug and they fall back onto the couch. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Yay!” says Jaida, and piles on top of them.
Jan jumps up, knocking Jaida off the couch.
“I’m gonna tell Jackie. And pick out an outfit!”
“You get four hours, tops!” Lemon yells after Jan’s retreating back. Then she looks at Jaida, half panicked. “I’m going to survive this, right?”
“Lem, it’s just a few hours. You’ll watch a movie, have a snack and read a book. In and out. You’ll be fine.”
Lemon’s shoulders loosen, and Jaida rubs her back up and down.
The grown ups left less than five minutes ago, and she already regrets everything.
Gigi and Lemon stare at each other from opposite sides of the couch, two mirror images of crossed arms and distrusting stares.
It’s almost like Gigi is appraising her. Lemon does not care for that at all.
“Aren’t you gonna go play, or something?”
Silence.
“Are you hungry?”
Nothing.
“Your mom said we could watch one movie.”
Gigi seems to perk up.
Okay. Maybe they are getting somewhere.
“You wanna do that?”
Gigi nods and climbs off the couch to get the TV remote.
Lemon flicks through the movies available, losing faith in finding anything remotely tolerable and kid friendly.
“Okay, what do you wanna watch? Like, the Paw Patrol Christmas special, or something?”
She does not mean to sound so condescending in front of the kid, it’s just hard to turn it off. But she can try.
“Do you like Peppa Pig?”
“Ew.”
Lemon smirks, surprised. The kid is funny. She keeps flicking through the movies until she sees Gigi jump up in her seat.
“That one.”
“Frozen? You wanna watch that one?”
Gigi nods excitedly, and then remembers her manners.
“Please.”
Lemon clicks play.
“You have good taste.”
The first song starts and Gigi is already engrossed, her eyes wide, her lips quietly forming the lyrics.
The avalanche of questions and commentary that Lemon expected never comes. Gigi watches movies in silence, which suits Lemon just fine. She loves Frozen.
She finds herself dancing a little to Love is an open door, and it gets her the first smile from Gigi since she got there.
After the movie, they move to the kitchen to make peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Lemon lets Gigi handle a butter knife, which makes her feel like a one of the cool grown ups, and they bond over the need to cut the crust of all their sandwiches. Crust is gross.
Jan texts her every now and then, and when the three hour mark arrives, she tells Lemon they will try to be home soon. But Lemon stops her, and tells her to stay as long as they need. Jan asks if she’s sure, Lemon promises to call if there’s an emergency, and that’s that.
Gigi’s books are more fun than expected, and once she gets past the embarrassment, Lemon enjoys making all the silly voices for the characters. She changes some words here and there, but Gigi catches her every time, like she has them memorized. Lemon starts adding ridiculous sentences in the middle of the stories, making Princes fall on their butts from their horses and making the witches curse Princesses to sneeze spiders. Gigi laughs on the floor and eggs her on, and book reading turns into storytelling. They bring out every toy Gigi has to play characters in their game, and they take over the whole house.
For dinner, they order pizza, because Lemon draws the line at cooking. Gigi cleans up all her toys without being asked, which honestly stuns Lemon more than anything else, but she sits one stuffed animal on the table. He’s Flame the Dragon, Gigi explains as she sets a plate and a cup for him, and he joins all their meals. Lemon feels free to bring up the collection of plushies that live on the shelf above her bed, their names and their stories, and even dares to say Gigi can play with them sometime. It’s not a big deal, she’s a chill kid. Lemon will make her wash her hands first, maybe.
Lemon cleans up, Gigi brushes her teeth and gets in her pajamas. It’s early, and Gigi refuses to go to bed because her mom promised she would be home for her bedtime story, so Lemon still has a good hour to kill.
Drawing is the solution. Jan and Jackie find them like that, working on their drawings at the table, surrounded by color pencils and crayons.
“Hi, baby,” says Jackie, kissing the top of Gigi’s head. Gigi doesn’t look up from her picture, but she leans against her mom’s body, happy to have her back.
Jan kisses Lemon’s cheek in passing, then stands next to Gigi, scritching her nape.
“Did you have fun?”
“Mhm,” Gigi nods, still focused on the drawing. “We watched Frozen and made sandwiches with no crust and we made stories. I like Lemon. She doesn’t tell me to use my words, like the teachers in school. She understands.”
Gigi is too focused to see the impact her words have on everyone else. Jackie looks at Lemon with gratitude. Jan, with pride. Lemon, for her part, is dangerously close to getting emotional, and wants the attention off of her.
“Tell them what you’re drawing,” she tells Gigi, who lifts her pencil to show a page almost completely covered in blue.
“It’s the ocean, but inside the mouth of a whale. These are the teeth, this is the tongue, and these are the fish the whale eats,” Gigi says, pointing at the small dots of orange and red. “They’re swimming now, but they’ll be eaten.” She resumes her coloring.
“I made a picture too,” Lemon says, stupidly proud. She shows them a drawing of what is clearly Jan with a mustache and warts all over her face. “Do you like it?”
Jan frowns.
“Jackass.”
“No swearing in front of the kid,” Lemon says mockingly. Gigi nods in agreement.
“It’s almost bedtime,” says Jackie to Gigi. “What do you say you finish that drawing and we go read in bed?”
Gigi nods and starts painting faster. She’s done in two minutes and rushes to her bedroom. Halfway down the hall, she turns back.
Lemon gets an armful of child as Gigi crashes against her side.
“Thank you for playing with me today,” she tells Lemon.
Lemon can only pat Gigi’s head awkwardly.
“Sure. It was fun.”
“Yes. Come back another day.”
With that, she goes back to her room, leaving everyone stunned.
“That’s new,” says Jackie, smiling in spite of the shock.
“Gigi rarely hugs anyone,” Jan explains. “She must like you a lot.”
Lemon recovers quickly.
“Yeah, well, who doesn’t?”
She starts getting ready to leave, and Jackie asks how much she owes her.
“Nothing, don’t be stupid.” Jan scowls disapprovingly from behind Jackie’s back. “I mean, nothing, I had fun. Gigi’s… she’s actually really cool.”
“Yeah. She is.”
Jackie’s proud smile reminds Lemon of her own parents, of the way they talk about their three daughters like they are the best thing on Earth. When she sees that same smile on Jan’s face, all that she can think is that Gigi’s a lucky one.
When Lemon gets home, Jaida’s back on the couch, watching Survivor without her, like a traitor.
“I leave for one day…”
“How was it?” asks Jaida, already rewinding to the beginning of the episode.
“Good,” Lemon says, plopping down on the couch. “Though I feel exhausted, for some reason. We only played and watched a movie.”
“Yeah, kids will do that to you. Have you noticed Jan is less bouncy now?”
“I thought it was just old age.”
“Hey!” Jaida kicks her. “I’m only a year younger.”
“Yes, you’re both decrepit, and I’m young, gorgeous and thriving.”
“You know, with Gigi, you’re no longer the baby of the family.”
“What? No!” Lemon whines. “I never agreed to that.”
Jaida laughs at the pout on her sister’s face. Twenty-one and still a brat.
They watch the intro in silence, drinking the beers that Jaida gets from the fridge.
“Jai…”
“Hm?”
“Do you think Gigi would go with me to Build-A-Bear?”
