Chapter 9: Comfort From Us
The next day at the B&B, Boris and Oxana were saddened to find that Emily had gone back into her shell and when she saw them, she ran up to them and clung to them, afraid to leave their sides. Chef Remy looked saddened. "She saw their car go by and became quieter," he said.
Demi appeared. "She wouldn't even laugh at my silly antics," he said sadly.
Knowing that if their daughter wasn't laughing at the ghost's antics then it was serious, Oxana picked Emily up and held her comfortingly as the little girl buried her face into her mother's shoulder. Boris looked saddened and then had an idea.
"I think we should declare a family sleepover," he said. "We can set up camp in the living room."
"That way, Emily won't feel alone," Oxana said, realizing what her husband had in mind.
"I'll whip up some hot dogs for dinner," said Chef Remy, looking excited. "I'll even make my spooky s'mores!"
"That'll be great, Remy," said Vampirina with a smile.
"A family sleepover. We haven't had one of those in a long time," Gregoria said.
"Oh, it'll be so much fun!" Demi said excitedly.
Emily did perk up a little bit at the suggestion of a sleepover, but didn't react much beyond that, which worried her parents as they could see she was still very upset over the incident with her former adoptive parents.
For the rest of the morning, Oxana and Boris spent time with their daughter, holding her and comforting her. While Oxana did the laundry, Emily helped her and when Boris was moving stuff in the attic, the little girl helped him with that too. She didn't leave their sides for long and was always looking to make sure they were nearby her. Vampirina did her best to comfort her sister, who appreciated it and hugged her, but was still afraid.
By afternoon though, Emily had fully calmed down, but still stuck close to her family. However, she did giggle when Demi did a silly act for her, which was music to the family and Remy made some macaroni and cheese for dinner, which Emily eagerly ate after she had been unable to eat the night before with being scared the day before. The skeleton looked relieved that the young girl was gaining back her appetite and gave her an extra helping, to which she hugged him gratefully.
Poppy and Bridget, who had agreed to bring Emily and Vampirina's schoolwork, were at school gathering up their work and had called to say they'd be there the next day with the homework, but were able to give the girls the art assignment and math assignment.
Doing schoolwork helped Emily out a bit and she and Vee tested each other on the multiplication tables they had learned in math and the art project was making pencil holders with construction paper and some cardboard. Doing the project together, the girl made each other a pencil holder and then made two for their parents. Emily then got an idea and motion to Vee and together, using some stronger materials, they made Chef Remy a big pencil holder, but with the idea to put his cooking tools in it.
Emily then jumped up and did an Internet search before coming upon a Dia De Los Muertos skull that was brightly decorated. "Wow! That's cool!" Vampirina said. "Let's see if we can make one similar for Remy."
It took some very careful work, but when they were done, they giggled and then put it on the coffee table, spying Wolfie coming into the kitchen. "Ah! Wolfie! Out!" Remy said in a semi-stern voice, but Wolfie just barked happily, making the girls giggle as they tried to get Wolfie, but he jumped at Remy, making the skeleton drop the milk he had gotten from the fridge.
"Uh-oh," Vee said worriedly and ran to her room to get the moon dust she had on hand in case this happened.
Emily watched with wide eyes as Wolfie became Were-Wolfie and she shivered at seeing the little dog becoming a great big dog. Remy saw the Emily was getting a bit scared. "Emily, don't run," he said gently. "Were-Wolfie won't hurt you."
She looked at him incredulously, but he nodded reassuringly. "Wolfie occasionally transforms into his larger self, but he won't hurt you."
As if to prove this point, Were-Wolfie licked Emily's face with his long tongue. Making a face, she wiped away the drool he left on her cheek, except he did it again, making her gently fall down before he nudged her shirt up just a little and licked her stomach.
Giggles escaped the young girl and she tried to squirm away, but Were-Wolfie was gently pinning her legs down so that she couldn't escape as he continued licking her stomach. Remy had to laugh as he recalled Were-Wolfie doing that to him once, but it was on his ribs and had tickled horribly. The little dog now turned big dog's tongue was murder on a person's tickle spot.
Vampirina came down with the moon dust and she giggled when she saw her younger sister was being tickled by Were-Wolfie and she opened the bottle of moon dust. "Wolfie," she cooed sweetly and ran around him, helping him revert back to normal and giving Emily a chance to recover. The younger girl giggled as Remy helped her up.
"See? He just wanted to play with you," the skeleton said, wiggling his fingers into her stomach and she giggled before reaching for his ribs and tickling him, making him jump and quickly catch her hands to stop her, but smiled at hearing her giggle some more. Emily then took his hand and gently tugged. "What?" He asked curiously.
"We want to show you something," Vampirina said as they gently dragged the skeleton to the living room to show him what they had made for him. The chef was surprised and touched that the girls had made him a gift to hold his cooking utensils.
"What a thoughtful gift!" He said and hugged the girls. "Thank you, girls."
Later learning about the incident with Wolfie and the two making a gift for Remy, Oxana and Boris were relieved to see that Emily was now back to herself and the little girl went up to them, writing something and giving them the paper, which they read.
What if those people come here for me?
"We won't let them get you, Emily," Oxana said reassuringly.
"We'll fight for you and protect you," Boris promised.
Knowing they meant it, Emily hugged them both. "Mom. Dad," she said.
Hearing her speak for the first time surprised them, but it also filled them with joy and further cemented their promise to keep the little girl there with them, as she was undoubtedly a Hauntley.
After hearing how some of you wanted Emily to meet Were-Wolfie, I figured it was about time she did. He really is a big old softie, despite his large stature.
And yay! Emily is now able to speak again. Granted, it may only be a handful of words now, but with the family she has, I've got no doubt that she'll be talking up a storm soon.
Next up: Emily assists the police in their search to find the Stemwrithes.
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GoldGuardian2418
