Catherine had found herself in quite the predicament. She had drunk her milk every night, took her Vitamin D, brushed at least twice a day and made sure when she wrestled with her brother or any of the others that her mouth never got hit.

It didn’t change the fact that her adult teeth were decidedly un-pointy compared to all the grown-ups. Besides Red, maybe, but she doubted his tooth care regiment anyways.

Staring in the mirror and pulling at her gums didn’t exactly change the fact either, though.

There was a tap on the bathroom door. “Darling? You’ve been in there for quite some time.”

“Girls do that!” she hollered back, went and locked the door as quietly as she could, scrambled back to the mirror. “Use the other one!”

Lysandre sighed quietly from the other side of the door. “What’s the matter?”

"What do you think?!" she huffed, made faces in the mirror. "I got it covered, just use one of the other bathrooms right now!"

“Darling, if you need to talk, I’ll be around.” The redhead sighed.

“I know, I know, thank you!” Aggravation slipped into her voice because what the fuck her teeth.

She was there for at least another hour.

He knocked twice more.

Catherine debated stalling the inevitable a little bit more, sighed, spent a moment pepping herself up before opening the door, her expression more grim than neutral. “Sorry, we should really get a clock in there.”

Lysandre blinked down at her, offered her a mug. “What happened, darling?”

She took it begrudgingly as she stepped out of the bathroom. “Same old same old. Economic woes.”

“Would you like to discuss them now?” The redhead blinked placidly down at her.

“Sure.” She shrugged. “Why not.” Paused. “...Uncle Lys, how long does it take for adult teeth to fully mature, again?”

He blinked. “Yours should be in now, darling, you lost your last baby tooth last year - why?”

“Well then I’m bein’ a late bloomer.” She shrugged again, took a sip from her mug and kept it there. “Just wondering, ‘sall.”

He paused, and something seemed to register. “It takes a while for them to sharpen, though. With use, you see.”

She squinted at him sidelong. “...Really? How can soft food sharpen them, though?”

“It’s a peculiarity of our family, that’s all, darling.” He reached over and tousled her hair. “Your mother was nearly twenty before hers came right. Your father’s only happened after he and your mother were married.” A little fib.

She didn't catch it, frowned dubiously. "...So it'll take that long to gettem right?"

“Possibly, darling. The takeaway is simply not to worry.”

"But I... I just thought since I did everything right, there'd at least be some progress." Catherine glanced away, scuffed her shoe on the carpet. "Then I'm okay? And Red? And I've been lecturing Palmer forever about how he needs more vitamins."

“It sometimes takes longer, darling. And not everyone’s teeth are quite so sharp as adults.” Plucked her up into his arms and squeezed. “It’s not a failing.”

"I guess not, but..." She huffed, buried her face in his chest and hugged him tightly - careful not to spill the mug. "So I'm okay?"

“Of course you are.” He smiled down at her, careful to keep his lips just over the fangs, kissed her on the forehead. “You’re perfect just as you are.”

Catherine smiled up at him shyly. "Alright. Thanks."

He chuckled. “You needn’t thank me for the truth, darling. It’s there plain as day without my help.”

"Well sometimes people need reassurance, okay?" She rolled her eyes. "Goodness."

He wrinkled his nose at her. “And I’m always glad to give it, darling.”

"You're as bad as grandma." She stuck her tongue out at him.