“I only did it at times. When you worked in the field. When Mom ran to the store really quick. It's not like I wore the skirt all the time.”

“Makes sense.” William replied. “And do you do it to relax?”

Tracy looked to the floor. “I used to think that. But the other day, when we stopped in Tracy.” Her friends began to snicker and she ignored them. “I thought Aunt Shelly didn't know and they'd hate me, so I became Troy for the time I'd be here and I hated it. I stayed up in the guest room, not wanting to to anything till Monday.”

“What happened?” William asked, genuinely curious.

“I happened.” Shelly said with a grin. “I told her that I knew and didn't care. A while later, Tracy showed up and then the girls came over to hang out with her.

“And that's been fun.” Tracy's smile brightened as she looked at her new friends.

“Must have, she's been around them for almost two days straight.” Persephone said with a grin. “Not that I'm complaining. She's a well behaved young lady.”

November 28th 1982
Livermore CA

As Tracy stood there wrapped in her father's embrace, out in the open for anyone to see, the emotions got the best of her and she began to cry again. Her father wiped a few of the tears off of her cheek and he gave her an odd look. “What's wrong?” William asked.

“N-nothing.” She stammered between the tears. “I'm just happy.” Her head went against his chest again, then two more sets of arms engulfed them.

She felt two bodies, one's she guessed to be Sage and Rachel against her back, then Sage's voice whispered in her ear. “See, it can work out.”

The group hug ended as the two other girls, who had began to cry on their own backed away from the father and his daughter. Maggie ran over, scooping Tracy up and then hugging Will, putting their daughter between them. “I am so proud of both of you.” She said. “But let's get this inside, before the neighbors ask questions.”

“Yeah.” William agreed. Rachel and Sage pulled Tracy away, leaving the adults the chance to walk together.

Persephone walked over and smiled at William. “Thank you.” She hugged him, then his wife.

“For what?” William asked as Persephone had began to follow her daughter.

She looked over her shoulders and smiled. “For proving to me how much you love your daughter.”

“I always have, I just never said anything.” He replied.

“Then maybe you should say it more often. Don't forget your boy as well. Both will need love and support.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I think I got a lot to learn about being a good father.”

She slowed down and fell in step with the couple. “How do you feel about all of this?”

“I'm not sure. I'll support her, but I have no idea what she's going through. I'm...” He shook his head. “This is all new territory to me. I have so many questions and I don't know where to go for the answers.”

“Come inside and I'll help with as much as I can. I've got a lot of experience in this subject.” Persephone replied.

“You know someone like Tracy?” He asked.

“My daughter, Sage.” She pointed to her daughter that was walking just in front of them, both her and Rachel were walking with their arms around Tracy. The red-headed girl turned and smiled at him, pushing up her glasses just slightly.

“Really?” He blinked a couple of times as he looked at the girl. “I...wow, I couldn't tell.”

Sage let go of Tracy and began walking backwards, watching William closely. “I'm a bit different, but she and I are the same, at least where it counts .” She tapped her chest, just over her heart.

A few minutes later William sat on the love seat, his wife sat next to him. Shelly had taken over the couch with two of the three girls and Persephone was in one of the chairs. Tracy sat on the floor in front of her parents, leaned back and letting her shoulders rest between them.

“So how long have you been dressing like a girl?” William asked his daughter. He put a hand on her shoulder as she looked back at him.

“A few years.” She blushed and looked at the floor.

“And no one caught you?” William had a hint of surprise in his voice.

“I only did it at times. When you worked in the field. When Mom ran to the store really quick. It's not like I wore the skirt all the time.”

“Makes sense.” William replied. “And do you do it to relax?”

Tracy looked to the floor. “I used to think that. But the other day, when we stopped in Tracy.” Her friends began to snicker and she ignored them. “I thought Aunt Shelly didn't know and they'd hate me, so I became Troy for the time I'd be here and I hated it. I stayed up in the guest room, not wanting to to anything till Monday.”

“What happened?” William asked, genuinely curious.

“I happened.” Shelly said with a grin. “I told her that I knew and didn't care. A while later, Tracy showed up and then the girls came over to hang out with her.

“And that's been fun.” Tracy's smile brightened as she looked at her new friends.

“Must have, she's been around them for almost two days straight.” Persephone said with a grin. “Not that I'm complaining. She's a well behaved young lady.”

“Thanks.” Tracy said, her smile being replaced with a blush.

“You're welcome Tracy. Anytime you're in town, just call and you can hang out with Sage.”

“Groovy.” Sage replied, causing William to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “Sorry, hippy parents.”

William was about to reply, but he shook the comment away. His time in the Army during Viet Nam gave him a bad view on the hippy movement, instead he moved to a new line of questions. “So, what about school?” He asked his daughter.

Her shoulders slumped down and she hung her head, but they could hear her voice. “I have to be Troy. I don't think they'd let me be Tracy.”

William nodded. He was sure that she was right. “What about your daughter?” He asked Persephone. “Sage was it?”

Persephone looked to her daughter, who shut her eyes and nodded. “It's cool Mom. He's asking and it may help.”

Persephone got up and moved to her daughter. Rachel scooted over and Persephone sat down, pulling her daughter in tight. “Sage is a different story.” She had the child’s permission and she respected her daughter, but questions were asked and William was trying to understand. She took a deep breath and let it out, facing William. “Sage is different. When she was born, she could have been a him, or a her. The doctors tried to force a change, but I refused. We decided to let her make her own choices in life. So, yes she's like Tracy, born in a body that isn't totally a female one, but she's closer to the end goal then Tracy.”

“So she's partly a girl now? That's why she dresses as one? What about school?” He asked again.

“Well, when she was born, she needed a name and a sex for public records. So reluctantly, I labeled her a girl. But when we left the doctor, I let her be who she wants. If she wanted to dress and act as a boy, she has the choice and her brother has a second bed in his room for her, so does her sister.” “She goes to school as a girl, because she's legally a girl. And she wants to remain as one. But if she had said she was a boy, I'd support that too.”

“And her father and siblings are good with this?” William asked.

“Yeah. As far as her sister Andromeda is concerned, she's the greatest thing in the world. And her bother Moony is totally on her side. He's even taken her side when some boys tired to pick on her.” Persephone replied.

“Here's hoping Vance is like that.” William said with a shake of his head.

“Well he's been good for a week or two now.” Maggie replied.

“I want to know.” William gave his daughters shoulder a light squeeze. “Do you dress like this at my mothers place?”

Tracy nodded. “Yeah, but only when you and Grandpa are out of town.”

“I see. How would you like to be Tracy at home.” He asked.

Tracy turned around, her face brighter then he had seen in a while. “Please?”

“I think it's okay, but I'd like to talk to someone about this as well.” William said.

“I know a few good people around here, but that doesn't help you at home. Although they may know someone up there.” Persephone replied. “I can ask the doctor the next time Sage has an appointment. It's next week I think?”

“Yeah.” Sage nodded, her smile had returned.

“What about Vance?” Tracy asked.

“Well he can talk to the doctor too I guess. Maybe we all should.” William replied.

Tracy shook her head. “No Dad. I want to be a girl. I should be a girl. Girl's don’t share rooms with their brothers.”

He thought about it and nodded. “Tell you what, we find a shrink and he agrees with you, then we'll find a way to make this work.”

“Really?” She asked.

“Yeah. But remember, you may still have to be Troy when your grandfather is around.” William stated. “But when your at home you can be yourself, okay?”

Without warning she launched herself at her father. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she held tightly. “Thank you Daddy.”

“It's no problem baby.” He put his hands on her back. He held her for a few minutes, then he looked from Persephone to Shelly. “When is Frank due back?”

“Well if the game gets over on time, about four or five, maybe as late as six, depending on traffic. But he'll call from a pay phone when he's leaving.”

“Good.” William nodded, then he looked to Sage and her mother. “How would you like to go out to eat? You and your family, Our treat?”

Persephone looked to her daughter who was nodding wildly. She laughed. “I'll have to call Carl and the kids, but I'm sure it should be fine.”

He looked to his wife. “We can see if Frank will join us with Vance and we can hit that place over by the highway the kids like.”

“What about Rachel?” Maggie asked.

“I'll call her mother.” Shelly replied. “She'll understand.”

"Invite her." William said. "Make it one huge group."

"I offer the invite." Shelly got up and headed to the phone.

Tracy stood up and looked at her clothes. “I think I'll change. This dress is wrinkled and the shirt is dirty.”

As she headed for the steps, Rachel and Sage got up. “We'll help!” With that the three girls went up the stairs.

Maggie leaned over to her husband and kissed him. “Thank you William.”

~o~O~o~

It had taken three tables pushed together to fit their group. The guys, Frank, William, Vance, Moony, Lance, Rachel's father and Carl, Sage's father had taken one table while Vance and Frank controlled the conversation at that table with talk of the football game. Tracy's mother, Aunt Shelly, Rachel's mother and Persephone talk about their time in school in the bay area.

That left the four girls on their own, trying to talk in the middle of the table without over riding the other two conversations. “This is cool.” Sage said, leaning over the table. “Who knew your dad would be so awesome about this.”

“I know. And I get to be Tracy at home too. This rocks.” Tracy replied.

“Yep. And your mother said she'll try to make sure you get to see us as much as possible, so that's good too.” Rachel replied.

“Hey, maybe we could go camping in the summer?” Sage's smile shown brightly.

“Camping?” Rachel asked. “Like in the woods with bugs and crazy animals?”

“What about my backyard?” Tracy asked. “We got fifteen acres of olive trees, plus a ravine behind us.”

“Doesn't that include the animals and bugs again?” Rachel asked, her smile fading.

“Come on Rachel, you can have fun and not be at an expensive hotel.” Sage replied.

“Yeah, but hotels are fun.” Rachel huffed out. “Think of the swimming pools.”

“I can't swim.” Tracy replied.

“Really?” Sage leaned in and whispered. “Like you swim like a rock, or because your afraid people may see something?”

“I swim like a rock.” Tracy replied. “And it sucks cause there is a lake by the town we live in.”

A hand touched her shoulder and she looked over to her father. “Young ladies shouldn't say suck.” He stated, before standing up. “But on that note, we should get going. Your friends have school tomorrow. And it's almost seven.”

“Awww.” Tracy said as she reluctantly stood.

Maggie put a hand on her daughters shoulder. “Don't pout. I've got their phone numbers and addresses in my purse. I gave Persephone ours and she has a copy for the girls.”

“Oh, cool.” Tracy said as the group made their way outside.

When they got to the car and the adults began to say their farewells, Tracy hugged Sage. “Thank you for hanging out with me.”

“It was fun. I wouldn't have missed this for the world.” Sage replied as she hugged Tracy back.

“And thanks for the clothes.” Tracy said as she hugged Rachel.

“No problem. I'm just glad they got a good home to go to.” Rachel hugged her back.

“Come on kiddo.” William said, stopping just behind her. He looked at the two girls. “If you two get the chance to come to our place, the doors always open.”

“Thanks.” The two girls replied before slowly heading over to where Persephone had left her bus. Tracy stood by the back of her fathers car as Frank and Shelly got into theirs and they took off. She kept an eye on her new friends as they piled into the bus, along with Sage's family.

As the bus fired up, her dad tapped her shoulder and pointed to the door of the car. “Come on, we got a busy day tomorrow.”

~o~O~o~

November 29th 1982
Tracy CA

It had been a good trip to and from San Francisco, despite the rain that was almost non stop. It had made sure that the two kids didn't want to go walking around too much. So after Maggie's appointment and a quick early lunch in China town they had left San Francisco. They managed to beat anymore rush hour traffic and get to William's car. Tracy now sat in the front seat of her Dad's car as they topped the hill that led into the town of Tracy. The backseat was full of clothes that Rachel had left for her at Shelly's place.

“Hey, you doing okay over there?” William asked his daughter.

“Tracy nodded and gave him a small smile. “Yeah. Gonna miss Rachel and Sage though.”

“Well the good thing is you can see them again.” He replied. “It's not like it's in LA. It'll be just a three hour trip to drop you off.”

“Drop me off?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “When you were showering yesterday, You're mother and that Persephone woman made a plan for a couple of weeks from now. You mom and I will take you down there on Friday the seventeenth after school and then we'll get you on the twenty third. You'll be staying with Sage, Rachel and your Aunt and Uncle.”

Tracy's eyes got huge. “Really?”

“You're Aunt swears they're good people and you seem to enjoy yourself around the girls, so why not?”

“Thank you Dad.” Tracy fought to keep more tears of joy out of her eyes.

“Don't thank me, Kiddo, thank your Mom and your Aunt and that Persephone woman.” He said with a grin.

“Oh I will.” She smiled at him.

“This may be a Christmas present though, with the cost of getting you down there.” He stated.

She thought about it. It was costly to drive and she would be down there for three full days and two half days, so it all worked out. “That's the best present I could get.” A tear streaked down her cheek. “A few days with my new best friends. Thank you Daddy.”

“You're welcome...” He wasn't sure what to call her. It had always been big guy for either boy but now the rules had changed. So he went with the best alternative. “Princess.”

Her smile grew brighter and she seemed to sit taller in the seat. Her heart beat strongly, a feeling she wished that feeling would never go away.

~o~O~o~

It was just after five when the two cars carrying Tracy and her family pulled into their driveway. Maggie, Tracy and Vance went into the house, each with their suitcases, as William went over to his mothers to let her know he was home. Tracy hadn't changed into Troy and a part of her was worried about her grandfather seeing her, but she decided that she needed to get her clothes out of her dads car. She was not too concerned at people seeing her when they drove by, their road wasn't that popular.

Tracy was making her fourth trip from the car, putting the clothes into a pile on the couch as William stepped in, holding what was left in the car. His mother stood behind him. Tracy turned to see her and smiled brightly. “Grandma!”

“Hello young lady. Your father told me about the new changes. It is nice to see you with a smile on your face.” She said as she came into the house. “There's been some changes next door as well.”

“Is everything okay?” Tracy asked.

“Let me tell everyone at once.” She said.

William went into the kitchen and called down the hall to his son. “Vance, we need you in the living room.”

Maggie came into the master bedroom, followed by Vance from the kitchen. They all took a seat as Modine sat on the couch next to her granddaughter. “So you know, Conner found Tracy's clothes. You left them in the dresser and Angie showed them to him. He found the rest in my closet. He had a fit about it and I threw him out.”

“You threw Dad out of the house?” William asked.

“He's in his shed. He has a wood burning stove in there, so he wont freeze. But he's out of the house until his attitude towards my granddaughter changes.” Modine stated. She put an arm around Tracy. “He refuses to catch up with the times and until he does, I don't want him being anywhere near Tracy.”

“I understand.” William replied.

“Is he mad at me?” Tracy asked.

“Tracy, don't you even try to shoulder the blame on this. He's the one with out-dated morals, so this is all his fault.”

“Oh.” She said.

“Look, I didn't want to rain on your good day, but I had to warn you.” Modine hugged her granddaughter again. “Look, I have something on the stove, so I need to get back. If Conner gives Tracy any problems, call me.”

“We will Mom.” William replied.

“Good.” She got up and headed for the door. “See you on Friday Tracy.” She said before she walked outside.

Tracy sat there stunned. She wasn't sure how to handle the news. Her grandfather knew, but something in her grandmothers tone had scared her. Her mother seemed to notice and she pulled her back to reality.

“Hey, Tracy? You want to help me get dinner prepared? Something nice and easy?”

“Sure Mom.” Tracy said as she stood up. “I'd love to.”

Sorry for the jumping around, but I felt the story was droning on so I skipped. And a visit to Weather Underground let me see what type of weather San Fran had that day, so sorry, no fun on the town. But I feel she came out better for it.