This week has been so long already and its only Wednesday! I hope you like this chapter! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 6
Emma, although she was grumpy from her parents treating her little a kid, was starting to feel worse from her excursions. "Dad?" Emma said a bit shakily.
David looked up at Emma thinking she was trying another tactic to get to the couch, but he wasn't playing it. "Emma, you are staying in bed young lady."
"I don't care. I just...I think I'm going to be sick." Emma said before throwing up all over herself and the bed.
"Emma." David said as he walked quickly over to Emma. He quickly wrapped the blanket up in itself and grabbed the wet rag to clean up Emma's face, but it had gotten into her hair as well. "Ok, Emma. You're going to have to take another bath." David said as he started to help Emma sit up. As he did, she ended up throwing up again but this time all over her clothes. Emma then looked up at him apologetically.
"It's okay, Emma." David said as he pondered what to do now as he wiped her face again. He needed to get her cleaned up, but she was a grown woman not a little girl. But he had to do what he had to do and she was his daughter. Snow would have come in handy here.
"Ok, let's get you cleaned up." David said as he picked Emma up off the bed. He walked over to the bathroom with Emma in his arms and placed her in the tub.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Emma asked, wondering why he put her in the tub with her clothes on.
"Just let your Dad take care of you, okay?" David said with a smile. Emma looked pale and she was shivering. He felt her forehead, which seemed warmer than before and it worried him. He started to take her yoga pants off.
"Dad! What are you doing?" Emma asked as her cheeks flushed more than they already were from the fever.
"Emma, you can't take a bath with your clothes on and I don't think you have the strength to do this yourself." David said softly before finishing taking off her pants, but her long t-shirt kept her covered. He then picked her up and put her on the corner of the tub with her feet in the tub still. He then turned the water on to start her bath and put some bath soap in it.
"Ok. Do you think you will be okay for a few minutes?" David asked seriously as the tub started to fill.
"Yes, of course." Emma said even though she looked terrible and was leaning against the wall.
David kissed the side of her head before standing up. "I'll be right back."
"I can do this myself, you know." Emma said as he started to walk out.
David looked back at her and knew that although they both wished that she didn't need help that she would need help this time. She looked like it was a struggle just to sit up. "We both know that's not true." David said before leaving to get clean clothes for Emma. He quickly ran up the stairs to Emma's room and got her some clean yoga pants and another one of his shirts that Emma had managed to take to wear to bed.
Emma knew that she needed her father's help, but she would never admit that to even herself. She was too weak to do anything and feeling very lightheaded. She closed her eyes as she waited for him to come back, but when she did she felt that annoying feeling of her mouth watering. "Crap. Dad?" Emma tried to yell, but he must not of heard her. "No, not again." Emma said as she tried to move her legs out of the tub so that she could get to the toilet. She realized just how much she needed her Dad when it took all their energy to move them over the tub.
Before she could even stand, she threw up on to the floor and then ended up falling to the floor with a scream.
David was on his way back down the stairs when he heard a scream and a crash from the bathroom. He ran the rest of the way to the bathroom and rushed in to see Emma on the floor, half in a pile of vomit. "Emma." David said as he knelt by Emma as he grabbed a towel to try to soak up some of the vomit on the floor. He then leaned Emma against the tub.
"I'm sorry. I tried to make it." Emma said softly as a few tears fell down her face.
"It's okay, baby. Let's get you out of these clothes." David said as he turned the water off since it was ready by now.
By this point, Emma didn't care and knew she couldn't do this herself. She would have preferred her mother's help, but her father's strength would come in handy. David turned back to her with an apologetic look before helping her out of her shirt and then picking her up in his arms. He then carefully put her in the full tub.
"There you go." David said softly as he let go of Emma.
"I can take it from here." Emma said feeling a bit awkward at the situation again, even if she still had her undergarments on.
"You are going to need some help washing your hair and I need to clean this up." David said softly. "I need to get a mop or something. I'll be right back. If you need anything yell for me, I'll leave the door cracked open so I can hear you." David added.
"I'll clean up, you don't have to." Emma said quickly.
"You will do no such thing. I can handle it." David said before leaving the bathroom.
Emma sighed before removing the rest of her clothes and putting them with her dirty clothes that were on the floor. She then just relaxed as best she could in the tub. She was going to wash her hair, but then she realized her Dad was right. It was too much work and she would have to rinse her hair out.
Her Dad was back in a minute with a bucket of water and a mop. He gathered all of Emma's dirty clothes, the dirty towels and rugs from the floor and put them in the hamper before moping the floor.
David came back in after dumping the mop bucket and rinsing it out. "Okay, Em, let's wash your hair." David said as he knelt by the tub and filled a cup with new water.
"I can do it myself, Dad." Emma said with a bit of annoyance.
David grunted, but didn't say anything as he tilted Emma's head back and poured the water on her hair. After her hair was wet, he grabbed the shampoo and massaged it into Emma's hair. He quickly rinsed it out by using the cup again.
"Don't forget the conditioner." Emma said with a mischievous giggle.
David sighed as he grabbed the conditioner, but smiled that Emma was giggling. They didn't hear that very much and when they did they cherished the sound. "You are a little stinker, did you know that?" David said as he massaged the conditioner into her hair.
"Me? Never." Emma said in a mock-offended tone.
"Ha! You are so much like your mother." David said with a chuckle before rinsing her hair out.
"You didn't leave it in long enough." Emma said and then bit her lip when she saw her Dad's look and tried hard not to smile.
"Well that's too bad." David said with a smirk before kissing Emma on the cheek.
"Hey!" Emma said after the unexpected kiss. Her father just laughed as he grabbed a towel for Emma and Emma started to drain the water from the tub.
"Ok, Em. Let's get you out of there." David said as he stood up with the towel. "Do you think you can stand on your own?" David asked, knowing Emma didn't have much energy left.
"Yeah." Emma said quickly.
"Okay. I'll close my eyes while you stand." David said as he held out the towel.
Emma was thankful for that, but although she wanted to be able to stand up by herself she had a bad feeling about this. She tried to stand anyway and took the towel to put around her, but her legs were like jelly and as soon as she stood up they collapsed beneath her making her fall back in.
"Emma!" David cried as his eyes snapped open as he heard Emma fall. "Are you okay?" David asked as he knelt down beside the tub and cradled Emma's head in his hands.
"Ah yeah." Emma said with a groan. She had hit the tub pretty hard, but she was okay just a little sore.
"Did you slip?" David asked.
"No." Emma admitted reluctantly. "My legs feel like jelly." Emma added quietly and a bit ashamed for feeling weak.
"Hey, it's okay that's why I'm here." David said softly. "Now let's try this again."
David helped her up and then lifted her up in his arms. He then set her on the edge of tub and looked at her intently. "Are you feeling okay?" David asked.
"Not really." Emma said as she started to feel dizzy again and she clasped on to her Dad's arm.
"Do you feel like you are going to get sick again?" David asked.
"No, just dizzy." Emma said.
"Okay." David said as he kept one hand on Emma and with the other grabbed for another towel. He wrapped the towel around Emma's shoulders and put her hair on top of it.
He then dried off Emma's hair with the towel, but Emma was feeling very light headed and dizzy. "Dad, I think...I can't do this..need to lay down." Emma mumbled.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. Do you think you can hold on for just another minute till your dressed?" David asked.
"I guess." Emma said softly as she closed her eyes.
"If you feel like you are going to get sick let me know." David said as he reach for the shirt he brought for Emma to wear.
"Okay." Emma said, but knelt over to put her head on her hands.
David quickly took off the towel around her shoulders and slipped the big t-shirt over her head and over the other towel. He then quickly helped her finish getting dressed before picking her up in his arms again, but then he realized that he hadn't taken the sheets and blankets off the bed so he put her on the couch. "This is only temporary." David said as he got a questioning look from Emma. "I'll be back." David said, but then remembered that Emma may throw up again so he grabbed a trash can and set it by Emma.
David quickly went to the bed and changed the sheets.
Emma wasn't sure why she was feeling so terrible, but she actually wanted to be back in bed. It was a lot more comfortable than the couch, not that she would ever admit that to her mom or dad. She closed her eyes and wondered why she was still getting dizzy even when she was laying down.
"Emma, how are you feeling?" David asked after a few minutes.
Emma opened her eyes to look at her Dad. "Fine."
David narrowed his eyes, he could see that wasn't true because her eyes were telling a totally different story. "Ok, let's get you to bed and get some food and medicine in you."
"What? I can't eat anything." Emma said with a bit of panic in her voice.
"You need to eat something it will help with you feeling so weak and you need the medicine to bring down your fever." David said before helping Emma sit up and then stand, but not letting her go.
"Feeling okay?" David asked as he helped Emma walk over to the bed.
"No." Emma said as she leaned farther into her father's side.
"Ok, we are almost there." David said as he held more of Emma's weight.
"Dad?" Emma said as she felt her legs starting to give out under her.
"Whoa, I've got you." David said as he caught her and then sat her down on the bed.
"Okay, baby, lay down."
"I'm not a baby." Emma mumbled as she lay down.
"Hm, I'm pretty sure you are my baby." David said with a chuckle.
"That's not what I meant." Emma said as she closed her eyes.
David smiled softly at Emma as he covered her up in the blanket. He then went and got the trash can just in case Emma needed it.
"Dad?" Emma said from across the room in a panicked voice. David ran over with the trash can.
"What is it?" David asked as he made it to her.
"I just feel weird." Emma said as she grabbed her dad's hand. "Maybe I do need to eat something." Emma added.
"Ok, I'll get you something." David said as he felt her forehead, which reminded him that she still needed medicine.
David then tried to leave to get her something, but she wouldn't let go of his hand. "Emma, honey, I can't get you something without my hand. I'll be right back." David joked softly.
"Ok." Emma said as she let go.
David quickly made toast for the third time and brought it over along with Emma's medicine.
"Here you go, princess." David said as he placed the tray beside Emma and helped her sit up a little.
"On second thought, I don't think I need to eat anything." Emma said as she started to feel queasy at the smell of the toast.
"Emma, you need to at least try it." David said as he brushed a few strands of wet hair from Emma's forehead.
Emma grimaced as she picked the toast
up; it had a very thin layer of peanut butter on it probably for the protein. She took a tiny bite of the toast that didn't even consist of any of the peanut butter. "There I tried." Emma said as she put the toast down.
"Now why don't you try an actual bite?" David said with a shake of his head.
Emma scrunched up her face before picking up the toast again and this time eating a normal size bite. "Can I be done now?" Emma asked after she swallowed the toast.
"No, you need to eat more of it to get your strength back." David said firmly.
Emma frowned. "But Dad.." Emma whined.
"Ut uh. I'm not arguing with you, eat it. Now, I'm going to go take a shower and I expect that toast to be gone by the time I get back. And don't forget to take your medicine." David said as gave Emma a stern look.
"Fine." Emma said after she tried to stare down her father unsuccessfully.
David nodded before heading towards the bathroom. Emma looked at the toast and then at her Dad's retreating figure before smiling. She just needed to get rid of the toast...
Magic. She could make it disappear and then her Dad would never know. She closed her eyes and let her emotions fill her until she felt her magic. A flash a light later and the toast was gone. Emma smiled triumphantly, but when she heard someone clearing their throat, she gulped and looked up to see her Dad standing at the end of the bed with his arms crossed.
David didn't say anything, but headed to the kitchen, which made Emma wonder if she had gotten away with it. After another minute, David came back with another piece of peanut butter toast and set it in front of Emma. "Don't you dare pull that trick again, young lady." David warned with a stern look.
Emma looked at the toast and then at her Dad who seemed to be waiting for something. "Sorry." Emma said sheepishly.
"Well you can make it up by eating this piece of toast. It's only the fourth one I made for you." David said with a smirk.
Emma tried not to smile at that, but it was kind of funny. "I guess I can try." Emma said.
"You will do more than try." David said firmly.
Emma grimaced when David sat down in the chair beside the bed. "I thought you were going to take a shower." Emma said.
"I'm going to right after you eat the toast." David said with smirk.
"I promise I'll eat it and not magic it away." Emma said not liking that her father was watching her eat. It was a little awkward.
David narrowed his eyes trying to decide if Emma was telling the truth and would actually eat it. "Ok, I believe you, but it is very important that you do eat it." David said before getting up from the chair and sitting on the edge of the bed.
"And Emma, until you are better I think it would be best that you don't use your magic." David said softly as he touched her face.
"What? Why?" Emma asked.
"Because your faced paled a couple of shades right after you used your magic. It still is pale from it." David answered softly.
"It didn't bother me." Emma complained.
"Emma, it did bother you and I don't want you using it till you are better, okay?" David said.
"But..." Emma started, but when her father gave her a look she decided it wasn't worth the trouble. "Okay." Emma relented.
"Good, now please eat your toast and take your medicine. If you need the trash can, it's right here and I'll be back in a little bit." David said kindly before kissing the top of her head as he stood up.
Emma rolled her eyes at the affection, but inside she loved the affection her parents showed her. She picked up the toast and started to eat it like she had promised. Only when she was almost done was she tempted to magic away the rest, but for once she wanted to keep her word. It may be the little daddy's girl in her that wanted him to be proud of her and not disappointed in her. So Emma reluctantly finished the toast even though she thought she was about to throw it all up again. She then took the medicine as she was told to take.
After throwing up a couple times, taking a bath, eating and taking her medicine, Emma was worn out and didn't think she would be able to keep her eyes open long enough to let her father know she kept her promise. She set the tray on the bedside table before leaning back against the headboard since she didn't have much energy to scoot down in bed. She closed her eyes and waited for her Dad to come back.
David came out after his shower expecting to have to get Emma to finish her toast and medicine, but he walked up to the bed he noticed she was asleep against the headboard. He then looked to see that the plate was empty and the medicine was gone. He would have wondered if Emma had just used her magic, but there was actual crumbs on the plate that weren't there the last time she used her magic.
"Emma." David said softly as he shook Emma's shoulder.
Emma blinked her eyes open. "I ate it." Emma mumbled proudly.
"I saw." David said with a chuckle. "Why don't you scoot down?" David said softly.
Emma nodded with her eyes closed.
David smiled as he adjusted the blankets around Emma who settled on her side with her eyes already closed. "Sweet dreams, princess." David said softly as he kissed the side of her head.
David noticed that Emma smiled as he said that and figured she was thinking of her recent dreams.
"I took the medicine too." Emma mumbled as an afterthought.
David cocked his head to the side wondering why she felt the need to tell him that. "I noticed. Thank you for doing that for me." David said with a smile and knew he had said the right thing when Emma smiled as she started to fall asleep.
David started to gather Emma's plate and cup to bring back to the kitchen, but just as he was about to leave Emma grabbed his wrist. "What is it, Em?" David asked softly as Emma looked up at him with tired eyes.
"Can you..uh...stay?" Emma said quietly as she continued to hold his wrist.
David smiled as he set the dishes down again and sat on the edge of the bed. "Of course." David said as he took Emma's hand. "Now, close your eyes and sleep." David ordered softly.
Emma closed her eyes, but kept her father's hand.
David gently touched Emma's forehead and smiled at how peaceful Emma looked. She was so worn out, but she wanted him to stay with her. He would do anything for her. She was, after all, his little princess.
After a couple of minutes, Emma's hand relaxed in his hand and he knew she was asleep this time. He carefully laid her hand beside her before getting up and taking the dishes to the kitchen.
Emma reluctantly walked back from school to her foster home. She was in 2nd grade and in her fifth foster home. Compared to most foster homes this one wasn't too bad, but she was the only foster kid and then the foster family had two children. It was very clear that she was the foster kid, the one that didn't really belong. Emma felt like an intruder to this family and a burden to them. She would watch as the family would celebrate each others' birthdays, but when it came to her birthday it was just another day. They didn't physically hurt her, but emotionally they hurt her at every turn.
She should be grateful to be in a foster home that wasn't abusive, but it made her feel more alone. It showed her exactly what she didn't have and had never had.
"Emma, wait up!" Kristy called. She was in 2nd grade and treated Emma like she was nothing important. She didn't even acknowledge her while they were at school.
Emma stopped even though she would have rather gone on.
"My Dad and Mom are going to be so proud of me! Too bad you did bad on your test. What is it like to be dumb?" Kristy asked with a smirk.
"I'm not dumb." Emma said stubborningly.
"Ha! You are dumb. Good thing your parents aren't around to see your grades, they could never be proud of you." Kristy taunted as they reached the house.
As they reached the house, Kristy ran in and her father picked her up to twirl her around. Emma frowned and wished that she had a Dad to twirl her around. Kristy pulled out her test with a huge grin to show it her dad. He looked at it with pride shining in his eyes.
"That's wonderful, darling! You are the smartest girl in the world." Emma's foster dad said.
"Thank you, Daddy! Emma failed it." Kristy added with a smirk.
"Well we aren't talking about her, are we? Why don't we celebrate by going on out for ice cream? Your brother can come too." Emma's foster dad said.
Emma once again felt like an outsider as she was once again excluded from their celebration. She told herself she didn't want to be included and that it didn't bother her to be left out, but the truth was that it made her want her own parents even more.
Emma went to her room and spent the rest of the afternoon working on her homework. Normally, she was left alone unless her foster sister or brother came along to rub something in her face. Sometimes she felt like a ghost in their house because they would just ignore her unless it was absolutely necessary to address her.
Dinner was more praising Kristy and Steven. Kristy once again mentioned Emma's grade and even commented on how dumb Emma was. Emma always waited for her foster parents to scold their children, but they never did.
After dinner, Emma went back to her room and decided to go to bed early. She turned towards the wall and tears started to stream down her face. She wanted parents, her parents, but would they be proud of her? Maybe it was better that they didn't see her grade. They wouldn't be proud, but would they have loved her and treated her like a real person?
Emma couldn't help the tears that stained her pillow. No matter what, she still wanted her parents, but did they want her? Many people have told her that they didn't want her or love her.
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Next: Snow will be home in the next chapter!