"mama?" sophie said as Deryn tucked her into bed.
"Yes, dear?"
"Could you read me a story?" she asked. Deryn looked at her. Sophie's eyes pleaded.
"Oh, alright. Which one tonight?"
"One i havent heard, please."
Deryn went over to the small bookshelf in the room. Clearly, Alek had added two new books. She grabbed on off the shelf and went to seit on the end of the bed. Sophie stared up expectantly.
"Once upon a time," Deryn began and Sophie lied her head on her pillow. Deryn smiled.
Once upon a time, there was a faminly of bunnys. They all sat down to eat some dinner. The papa bunny sat at the end of the table. The brother bunny sat to the right of his Da. The sister bunny sat across from him and the mama bunny sat at the other end. They ate their lettuce and carrots peacefully. When every piece of food was off all their plates, mama bunny asked a question.
"Who will put the dishes in the sink?" papa bunny put a paw on his nose.
"Not I." He said and looked at mama bunny.
"Not I." She said as well, putting a paw on her nose.
The two looked at the brother and sister. Finally, the sister put a paw on her nose.
"Not I, either."
The brother bunny looked sad, but picked up the plates and put them in the sink.
"Now, who will wash the dishes?"
"Not I." Said papa bunny.
"Not I." Said mama bunny.
"Not I." Said brother bunny.
So sister bunny washed the dishes and set them out to dry.
"Who will dry the dishes?" papa bunny asked.
"Not I." He said.
"Not I." Said brother bunny.
"Not I." Said sister bunny.
"Alright, I will." Mama bunny dried the dishes with a dishcloth and pilled them on the counter.
"I'll put the dishes away." Papa bunny said. When papa bunny was done, they all sat down at the table together.
"Who would like dessert?" mama bunny asked the family.
"Me!" said brother bunny.
"Me too!" said sister bunny.
"Me as well, please." Papa bunny said and they all ate their dessert.
The End
Deryn looked up from the book to find Sophie fast asleep. She smiled and bent over to kiss her on the forehead. A hand came onto Deryn's shoulder. She turned to see Alek beaming down at their lovely daughter.
"Lovely, isn't she?" Deryn whispered to Alek. Their eyes met, both loving and warm.
"Yes."
"reminds me when i was a wee lass. Used to bug ma to read to me each night, until i memorized every word of every story. Da would laugh each time I'd recite a line while up in the balloon." She was beaming now too. They looked at each other again.
"Let's get some rest."
Alek nodded, and the two left the room, feeling accomplished.