"Mama... I can't sleep... "
I sighed, resigned, as Sherlock padded into my room for the fourth time after being put bed that evening
" What is it now? " I pinched the bridge of my nose; tired and irritable, I spoke slightly more sharply than I had intended. It promised to be a long night if I could not settle my youngest child. I blotted and set aside my letter to my cousin.
Sherlock had, of course, caught my tone; he pouted slightly, the start of tears threatening to spill over those impossibly long lashes. I pulled him into hug and sat him on my lap.
"No matter, cher, Mama's eyes were tired anyway. Now what is the trouble? "
The grey eyes stared back at me and blinked in silence, thinking.
"Bad dream? "
"N-no... " and his voice was thoughtful, " Not this time, anyway. My stomach. It keeps making noise and waking me up."
"Hmm. Did you eat your supper?"
"Mmmm... Oh. No, I don't think so. I was thinking, you see, 'bout something My had said and then the plate was cold and there was just so much there. And ... Mama, the foods were touching! " he exclaimed in horror.
"Ah. There's your trouble then. Hunger. Think that a biscuit and cocoa might help?"
He nodded solemnly. Taking my hand, we went down to the kitchen.
He swung his feet as he nibbled on his biscuit and slurped his mug of cocoa. His feet could not quite reach the floor as he sat on the bench closest to the fire.
"Mama?"
"Oui, mon petit chou* ..."
"Think I'll ever be as... as tall as Mycroft?"
"Well, maybe... if you remember to eat! Though I doubt quite as round... "
He giggled, a sound both rare and lovely.
"Mama! Not nice!"
I chuckled. "True, none the less, cher. Bedtime now."
"Oh ... must I?" his reply was plaintive and sleepy.
"You must; I will settle you in."
As I settled my youngest back into bed for the final time that night, he suddenly reached up and hugged me tight and kissed my cheek. I treasured this unusual occurrence.
"G'night Mama."
A/N: Written for for Aleine SkyFire's challenge for a happy childhood fanfic, from Madame Holmes' perspective. Based on my own experience with an night owl /insomniac child. * petit chou= literally little cabbage, term of endearment of children