The first vaccine is painful for everyone. Especially when teething is added on top of it.

Chapter 4

Sylvie sat in Olivia's pediatrician's waiting room for her daughter's checkup and vaccine shot. Unfortunately Olivia was a little fussy and getting more so by the minute. Sylvie was sure the few people also in the waiting room were looking at her judging her.

Sylvie checked her watch and frowned. Athos was supposed to meet them at the doctor's office, but hadn't shown up yet and she hadn't heard anything from him since he left for work that morning.

A nurse stepped into the waiting room calling them in. Sylvie breathed a sigh of relief grabbing her bag sitting on the floor next to her.

Once in the exam room there was more waiting and Olivia's cries rose.

Sylvie shushed her and bounced her on her knee. She then noticed Olivia needed to be changed.

Sylvie stood up taking Olivia to the examination table grabbing her bag.

The door to the exam room opened and Dr. Duvall walked in. She was a little older than Sylvie.

"Sylvie," she greeted Olivia's mum.

"Sorry," Sylvie said finishing changing her daughter.

"No trouble, it happens. Now how is your little Olivia today?" The doctor stepped up to the side of the exam table.

"Fussy," Sylvie said.

The doctor looked at her sympathetically. "No Athos today?"

Sylvie's lips pursed before responding. "He's supposed to meet us."

The doctor proceeded with her examination. "Well, I think I can see why Liv is so fussy."

Sylvie raised her head looking from her daughter to the doctor.

"She's teething," Dr. Duvall said.

This caught Sylvie by surprise. "Isn't it too soon?"

"It can start at two months," the doctor said.

Sylvie's hand came up, her fingers pressing against her pursed lips. This couldn't be happening now.

"I realize this is difficult," the doctor said. "My son was the same. I'll give you a list of things you can do to relieve the pain. In the meantime, it's time for her shot."

Sylvie sagged against the table holding onto her daughter. She watched as the doctor presented a needle.

TM

Sylvie exited the doctor's office with a very tired baby in her arms. Reaching the exit to the building she ran into Athos.

"Sorry," was the first thing he said.

"She's teething," was the first thing Sylvie said.

"What?" Athos stared.

"Her teeth are beginning to come in," Sylvie said.

"I'm aware…" Athos stopped this line of response.

"It can happen this early," Sylvie was walking to her car. She wasn't looking at Athos afraid she might start yelling at him.

"I'll meet you home," Athos said once they were standing at Sylvie's car and had Olivia settled inside.

"Fine," Sylvie said as Athos walked off to get to his own car.

TM

It wasn't long after they had put Olivia down for a nap when she started crying.

"I got her," Athos said getting up from the couch.

Olivia was even more fussy than before the doctor's appointment. When they moved the arm where Olivia received the shot she would cry more. The doctor told Sylvie there would probably be some muscle ache and that she should put a warm compress over the area.

Of course there was the teething that was clearly bothering her as well. They had been taking turns with Olivia since arriving home.

Sylvie slumped back into the cushion of the couch. She was still angry with Athos, but they hadn't really been able to talk about things with Olivia needing their attention.

It had only been five minutes and Olivia was still crying. Sylvie gave up and stood up off the couch shuffling into the nursery.

"I know cheri," Sylvie heard Athos as she entered the room. He was holding Liv to his chest with one arm and holding the warm compress against her arm.

Sylvie crossed the room standing next to where Athos sat. She reached out brushing her hand over Olivia's head. She then noticed a partially cold wet washcloth on Athos' shoulder where it had probably been used to sooth the pain in her mouth.

"Athos, I'm sorry."

"Sylvie, I'm sorry."

They grinned at each other. "I should have talked to you about what I was feeling," Sylvie said. "I had to watch my baby being poked by a needle causing her to cry. And find out she's hurting from teething as well."

"I shouldn't have let the case we were working on distract me," Athos said.

"I love you," Sylvie said leaning down and kissing his lips.

"And I love you," Athos said.

Sylvie looked down where she was still brushing her fingers over Liv's sparsely haired head and smiled. Olivia had stopped her cries and her eyes were drooping.

"Let's get her to bed," Sylvie whispered.

Athos carefully stood up walking over to the crib and gently placed her down.

They exited the room together holding hands.

TBC