DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Elena of Avalor! They belong to their respective creators. I only own the idea for this story.
Enjoy!

"More Important Than a Meeting"

Chapter 10

Isabel's fearful and painful cries grew louder as the procedure continued. Elena's heart broke with the knowledge that she couldn't protect her from this. She just prayed it worked.

"Elena!" Isabel cried desperately.

"Whatever you do, you need to keep Isabel still," Mateo reminded his friend.

"I know!" Elena said. She had to raise her voice slightly to be heard over Isabel's cries of distress.

"Elena! it hurts!" Isabel wailed, choking on her sobs as more pain hit. "It hurts!"

"Isa, I know…Yo te tengo. I'm not leaving. This'll help you feel better," Elena bent down and kissed her sister's head. She chanced a glance at Mateo, trying to gage how much longer it would take. Not being able to catch her friend's eye, she turned her attention back to her sister whose cries had become louder in the last minute or so. "Isa, esta bien, esta bien…"

"ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?" Naomi poked her head back into the room. She practically had to shout to be heard.

Elena nodded in answer for Mateo.

"Isabel's scared and in pain. Even if she wasn't hurting, sometimes vocal distress is a coping tool!" Elena explained. Even though she knew it was true, she wanted to help her sister calm down. She hated hearing her this upset. The last time Isabel had been like this was the night after she had been freed from the painting due to nightmares.

'Mateo, pore favor, finish up soon,' Elena thought as she blinked hard against tears of her own. Starting to sing another song called "My Time" the teenager was successful in gaining her sister's attention. She hadn't sung the song since journeying with Sofia back to Avalor, so this was the first time Isabel heard it. While her sister was still in tears, Elena had her full attention.

Five minutes later, Mateo spoke up.

"Okay, now I'm gonna put the potion on the wound," he informed the sisters. "After that, we just have to wait," he handed Elena the bucket as he spoke.

Elena nodded, still singing to Isabel.

"This is my time…my time reclaim what was ours long ago. This is my time to stand up with honor and pride. My time, I've come too far to be denied…"

"There we go," Mateo announced. "Now the waiting game begins."

"How do we know if it worked?" Elena asked. She had finished singing a minute before.

"She'll start expelling the chemical. Also, the rash will go away," Mateo replied. "Once the rest of the chemical is out of Isabel's system, I'll wrap her shoulder and she can rest. She should be feeling better by tomorrow sometime. She'll probably be eating again by tomorrow night or the next day. Start her off slowly."

"I know," Elena assured him. To her sister she gently instructed, "Isa, take a deep breath. Esta bien. It's all over, baby. It's over," she rubbed the nine-year-old's back as her sister coughed while trying to do so. "That's it. You're gonna be okay…"

Isabel tried and succeeded after a few minutes.

"Again," Elena requested.

Isabel obeyed.

"Buena ninia," Elena kissed her cheek.

"Elena, can we cuddle, pore favor!" Isabel begged.

Elena looked to Mateo.

"Go ahead, but you need to keep her right arm the way it is," he told her.

Elena nodded. Gently, she helped her sister sit up.

Isabel rested her head against Elena's chest. Closing her eyes, she finally started to relax.

"Is that better?" Elena softly asked.

"Uh-huh," Isabel replied. Her tears were slowly stopping.

"I'm glad," her older sister ran a hand through her hair. Turning to Mateo, she smiled gratefully. "Gracias para todo," she said.

"Denada. I'm gonna stay until I'm sure Isabel is on the mend," he put the stuff away and got comfortable in a chair.

Elena nodded.

"Is it okay to come back in?" Naomi poked her head into the room.

"Sure," Elena consented.

"How's Isa?" Naomi entered with Ember on her shoulder. The second the bujito saw her friend, she made to fly over.

"Ember, esparar," Elena firmly commanded. She made sure her tone wasn't harsh.

Ember hesitated before going back to Naomi.

"Did it work?" Naomi turned to Mateo.

"We'll know in a little while," Mateo replied.

Elena, I'm…I…" Isabel suddenly sat up, clapping her free hand over her mouth as her stomach twisted.

Elena put the bucket in place, soothing her little sister as she vomited. The sixteen-year-old just prayed this would be the last night Isabel would have to endure this.

"Isa…esta bien. There you go, that's my girl. Just get it up…" she encouraged.

"When she's done, I need to see it, " Mateo told his friend.

Elena nodded.

"Can I move it?" she asked her sister.

Isabel shook her head before heaving again. Once she was done, she nodded.

Elena handed the object to Mateo before resuming comforting Isa.

"The medicine's definitely working," Mateo reported.

"Gracias Mama," Elena whispered. She took the bucket back not a minute too soon.

"Isa…I know, baby. I know. This won't last much longer," Elena comforted.

Isabel hoped her sister was right. She was tired of this whole thing!

A half an hour later, things started to calm down. Isabel was resting in her sister's lap, letting her singing lull her to sleep. She hadn't thrown up for the past fifteen minutes, which was progress in Mateo's opinion.

"I'm glad Isa's finally truly feeling better," Elena commented.

"Me too," Naomi agreed.

"Isabel might throw up once or twice more tonight. This is because either there might be a tiny amount of chemical left or her body thinks it still needs to get rid of it," Mateo explain. "I would keep the bucket handy until tomorrow at least. There's a chance it's just a reaction. In that case, just hold her and try to stay perfectly still. If it's just a reflex of her body, the feeling should pass in time," Mateo explained.

"Okay," Elena said. "I know what that feels like. I had that problema when I had food poisoning when I was fourteen."

"That was an interesting Navidad according to Isabel," Naomi commented.

"It certainly was," Elena agreed. "Mateo, go get some sleep. You deserve it. You've helped us out tremendously. I can take care of Isa from here. I'll come get you if anything goes wrong."

Mateo hesitated, but finally nodded.

"I need to wrap her shoulder first," he left and returned with some supplies. After he was done bandaging Isabel's wound, he bid both sisters and Naomi Buenas nochas and left them alone.

Elena yawned.

"You look like you could use some sleep too," Naomi frowned in concern.

"Ember, bent aqui," Elena held out her left arm towards the bujito.

Ember obliged, settling on Elena's left shoulder.

Naomi grinned.

"Well it looks like she understands Spanish. Who knew?"

Elena let a little giggle escape her lips while rolling her eyes. As she did so, she realized it was the first time she had laughed since before Isabel got sick. It was nice to do it again. Glancing down at her sleeping sister, the crown princess prayed this was the turning point for all of them. Getting comfortable, Elena kissed her sister on the cheek. "Buena sueñas, Isa," with that, she let her eyes close, joining her sister in sleep minutes later. It had been a long day for everyone-especially for the Flores sisters.

Naomi grinned at the sight. Wrapping a blanket around both her best friend and her sister, the blonde made herself comfortable on the daybed. Soon, the room was quiet, except for the soft hoots of Ember. After a few minutes, she folded her wings and fell asleep on Elena's shoulder.

*****

Elena was woken up a few hours later by a soft, tearful voice calling to her.

"Elena…Elena!"

Opening her eyes, Elena found Isabel facing her, tears streaming down her face. Sitting up, a weird, stale sort of smell hit the teenager's nose.

"Isa, tu tiene mal sueña?" Elena rested a hand on her sister's uninjured shoulder.

Isabel shook her head. She lowered her gaze, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

"No," she softly replied.

"Are you hurting?" Elena inquired.

"Un poqito," Isabel replied.

Elena held her arms out, but Isabel didn't move into them as per usual. Elena tried to pull her close, but her sister backed up. The strange thing was, her hand came away wet after the minimal contact.

"Isa, what's going on?" You never refuse my comfort," Elena was growing worried. This wasn't like Isabel.

"I can't…you'll be mad," the nine-year-old whispered.

"I've never gotten mad at you for something you couldn't help. Talk to me," Elena gently requested.

Isabel hesitated for a minute or two. She still wasn't sure she could tell her sister.

Just then, a new voice broke into the conversation.

"Elena? What's…what's going on?" Naomi yawned in the middle of her sentence.

"Nada, mi amiga. Go back to sleep," Elena told her.

"Are you sure?" Naomi made to sit up, but the warm blanket made her reconsider.

"Si," Elena assured her.

"Okay," Naomi closed her eyes and was back to sleep not long after that.

Shaking her head, Elena turned her attention back to Isabel.

"Isa, pore favor, tell me what's going on. I wanna help, but I can't if I don't know."

"I..I had…an accident," Isabel all but whispered. The fact that she was still staring at the blanket meant that her sister had barely heard her.

"Que?" Elena asked.

"I…I had an accident," Isabel admitted, a little louder this time.

Elena was about to ask what kind when the pieces started falling into place. The reason Isa didn't want her to hold her, the wetness Elena had felt when she had attempted to pull Isa into her arms. Sighing, she reached her arms out again. This time, she was successful in pulling her sister close.

"Ya-you're not mad?" Isabel asked.

"Of course not! This wasn't your fault," Elena kissed her head. "It's just a quick clean up. Come on, let's get you into a bath. I Promise, it'll be a warm one," with that, Elena lifted her sister into her arms. Carrying her to her bathroom, she helped her undress. Setting the water to warm, Elena gently set Isabel in the tub. Hearing a soft sob, she glanced down. Sitting beside the tub, she gently ran a hand through her sister's hair. "Isa…esta bien. You're not in trouble. It's nada to get upset about. It happens."

Isabel nodded, tears streaming down her face.

"Ba-but I'm not little anymore!" she protested.

Elena fought the urge to remind her she was still a little girl. It wasn't what she needed to hear right now.

"You're right. But this sometimes happens when you get sick."

"It does?" Isabel sniffed back more tears.

Elena nodded.

"It happened to me when I was twelve and got the stomach flu really badly," Elena revealed.

Isabel gasped.

"You?"

"Yup. I promise, wetting the bed is normal in these circumstances," her older sister assured her.

Isabel nodded.

"Gracias, Elena. You won't tell anyone, will you?"

Elena shook her head.

"Nope. It'll stay between us. Now let's get you in a warm set of pj's and back in bed. We both need more rest."

"I'm sorry," Isabel softly apologized.

"Isa…remember what I told you yesterday?" her sister firmly stated.

Isabel nodded.

"Que yo dece?" Elena prompted.

"I don't have to be sorry for needing you," the nine-year-old recalled.

"Exactly," Elena kissed Isabel's forehead after helping her out of the tub. She was relieved when her sister felt cool. Helping her into her pj's, she carried her back to her room. "Go lie down in your bed. I'll be there in a few minutes," she whispered so that Naomi wouldn't wake up.

Isabel frowned.

"Are you sure you don't need my help? I'm the one who made the mess," she glanced down in shame.

"I'm sure," Elena went over to her. Kneeling down, she lifted her sister's chin so they were locking eyes. "You couldn't help it. I promise. I love you," hugging the little girl close, she stood. Once Elena had stripped her bed and remade it, she opened a window to air the room out. She also put a bowl of sweet smelling flowers on her dresser. Once that was done, she left the room. Turning back, she beckoned to Ember. To her surprise, the owl stayed put. Deciding to let her sleep, the teen made her way to her little sister's room. Climbing into bed beside her, she pulled Isabel close. "Buenas sueñas, Isa."

"You too," Isabel mumbled as her eyes closed. "I love you."

"I love you too," Elena combed a hand through her sister's hair until her own eyes started to close. Before she knew it, she was on her way to sleep once again. Hopefully they would both sleep until morning this time.