(Oh man, my brain is going to equal a giant bloody mess soon.

If I actually focus long enough OOH LOOK ICE CREAM NO FOCUS I may actually get my new story up tonight too... ACK.

The mind trembles at the mere thought of me being productive!

Chapter time!

Sidney, Naomi, Greg, Derek, Langston © Nintendo

Rylee © Me)

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Family Matters

Chapter Six- Bonding Time Through Bugs

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It was a firmly established fact that Greg was warm-blooded and Sidney was not. It was always a source of frustration when they were growing up; Greg would demand that the air conditioner be turned on during long road trips, and shortly thereafter, Sidney would complain that he was going to freeze to death.

So when Naomi woke up one morning and didn't shiver while holding her husband, she knew that there was something wrong.

"Sidney?"

Sidney groaned softly, slowly rolling onto his back.

His face had taken on a reddish hue; his hand rested on his throat as he began coughing harshly, his thin frame convulsing until he was too weak to cough anymore.

"That sounds horrible, Sidney... you're staying home today."

"Ngh... you only win... because m'too tired to argue..."

Naomi chuckled softly before getting up and walking to the master bathroom.

She returned to find Sidney leaning over the side of the bed, emptying his stomach in a most ungracious fashion onto the wooden floor.

Naomi said nothing as she left for the kitchen, returning with a glass of water and a mop. She placed the cup into Sidney's hands and began cleaning up the mess, keeping an eye on her husband as he slowly drank from the glass.

"Rylee doesn't have school today," she spoke matter-of-factly. "So she'll be making sure you actually rest, instead of sneaking onto your laptop- I know that's what your planning right now, Sidney."

"My work needs me..." he protested weakly.

"It needs you to rest so you can get better. Besides, you'll ruin your laptop after you puke all over the keyboard."

"Oh... I didn't realize I married a comedian..."

Naomi smiled briefly, gently kissing her husband's warm cheek.

"I'll hurry home from work, alright? Try and get some sleep, Sidney."

"Alright... see you later, Naomi..."

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"Daddy, you have to eat it so you can get better!"

"I will, Rylee... just... leave it on the nightstand."

Seven-year-old Rylee Kasal frowned at her father, putting the bowl of soup on the nightstand before placing her hands on her hips.

"Fine, but I'm not leaving till you eat it."

Sidney sighed... no doubts about it. She was his daughter.

"Fine, fine..."

Rylee hopped onto Naomi's side of the bed as Sidney slowly sat up, taking the bowl of soup and eating it slowly.

"Ah... it tastes so good..." Sidney sighed.

"...hey, Daddy? How did you meet Mommy?"

Sidney gave his daughter a slightly surprised look. Rylee stared back at him with inquisitive hazel eyes.

"You mean we've never told you...?"

Rylee shook her head.

"Nuh-uh."

Sidney put his spoon into the half-empty bowl, placing the dish back onto the nightstand.

"Well, about nine and a half years ago... your Uncle Derek was very, very sick," Sidney began, his voice still somewhat hoarse. "Your Uncle Greg couldn't make him better... so, Dr. Hoffman sent me to Europe to get Mommy."

"That's where she was?" Rylee asked, scooting closer to her father. Sidney smiled briefly, ruffling his daughter's silvery hair gently.

"Mhm... but before I could bring her here, I had to tell a really stupid man named Langston that if Mommy didn't come to America, then Uncle Derek would die. Mommy came to America and saved his life... and then after that, she and I started dating--"

Rylee made a face; Sidney couldn't help but chuckle at her expression.

"...and then we got married, and you were born."

"Mommy told me that you fainted when she told you I was in her tummy," Rylee frowned, resting her head on Sidney's chest, still looking up at him. "Is that true, Daddy?"

Sidney's sense of Kasal pride took over.

"I did not faint."

He just lost consciousness, is all.

"...hmm... did you lose consciousness?" Rylee queried, stumbling over the long word.

Damn. She was a Kasal, alright.

"...yes."

Rylee giggled softly, wrapping her arms loosely around her father.

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When Naomi finally go back home from work, she first walked into the bedroom...

...to find Rylee and Sidney sleeping, Sidney's arm draped loosely around his daughter. Rylee shifted in her sleep, nuzzling her father's shoulder softly before growing still once again.

Naomi smiled briefly, gently kissing her husband and daughter before draping a blanket over both of them and leaving them to sleep in peace.

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(End chapter six.

Now that was ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. I love Rylee so much, it's not even funny. ...okay, it is.

Please review!)