"Euphie, I don't think you should play in the hallways," Lelouch called out in concern. The little pink-haired princess just giggled and twirled happily, fascinated by the gentle swishing sound the skirt of her dress made as she moved so. Her feet daintily moved on their own as she did a little dance down the empty hallway. No governess, no tutors, not even disapproving Cornelia! What pure bliss! She laughed merrily.

Then suddenly…

"Euphie, look out!"

CRASH!

The princess gasped in horror as the shattered remains of an exquisite vase stared mockingly as her. She went down on her knees, biting her lip nervously, afraid of whatever punishment tha would be condoned to her.

"Euphie, are you alright?" Lelouch asked as he knelt beside her.

Euphemia's eyes widened in panic. "I… I broke Mother's vase…"

"It was an accident, Euphie. I'm sure it'll be alright," he tried to reassure her.

"Mother's going to be so mad at me…" Euphemia whispered meekly. She reached out to pick up the broken remains, hoping naively that she'd able to fix it together with glue. In her panic, a particularly sharp piece sliced her finger. Crying out, she dropped the rest of the pieces. Tears welled up as she whimpered painfully at the red oozing from the cut.

Alarmed, Lelouch's first reaction was to use his handkerchief to stop the bleeding, but after searching his pockets, he found that it was not with him. "Euphie, don't cry…" he pleaded helplessly.

"It…it hurts, Lelouch," she sniffled.

Lelouch bit his lip, and took Euphemia's hand. Then, without hesitation, he had his lips softly pressed on the wound, gently sucking away the secreting blood. He read once that saliva could be antiseptic and hoped he wasn't wrong about this. Euphemia's tears had stopped, and she felt strangely relaxed as Lelouch soothed the painful cut. She stared at her half-brother kissing her finger.

"There, it stopped bleeding. Does it still hurt, Euphie?"

Euphemia blinked, realising that Lelouch had removed his lips from her wound and was giving her a comforting smile. Flustered, she shook her head quickly, withdrawing her hand and caressing the faint red line on her finger.

"We'll get Mother to but a plaster on that," Lelouch said thoughtfully, "and then we'll say that Clovis's new Great Dane broke the vase." He winked at her at that last sentence.

Euphemia finally broke into a wide smile, and they both stood up, making their way to Marianne's apartments.

"Lelouch… why did you kiss my finger?" Euphemia asked shyly, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Erm, well… Mother says that kisses makes the pain go away, and then you'll feel all better!"

The next afternoon, with Marianne chasing Nunnally around in the gardens, Lelouch and Euphemia sat quietly at the garden table, watching the amusing sight of a grown woman running after a playful child.

"Teatime, Your Highnesses," announced a maid as she laid two cups of steaming tea and lovely hot scones on the table. They nodded and the maid left to her own duties.

As Euphemia sipped her tea, she suddenly gasped out in pain.

"Ouch! My lips…"

Lelouch placed his own cup down and scooted over to her in worry. "Are you alright, Euphie?"

She turned to him with her eyes twinkling in mischief yet eagerness. "I think I'd feel all better with a kiss."

Lelouch blinked in surprise, but the he chuckled.

"Of course, Euphie. Just tell me where it hurts."

The author speaks: There, some short fluff. School's starting next week and so I thought I better get this out of my mind and into the computer before I go on imagining this over and over in my head. ;D Just remember, Euphie and Lelouch are still kids here. I seem to like writing about them when they're not yet in their teens.

Please R&R (: