Caitlin knew that her six-year-old daughter would have a hard time understanding what it meant having a sibling. Abby, who was used to having her parents undivided attention, was going to find out first hand what it meant to no longer be the only child. Caitlin just hoped she'd be able to handle the transition well.

XXX

Three weeks into having a second child, and Caitlin needed sleep. Desperately. Barry was being the perfect husband and father that she needed him to be. He never came home late, always made sure Charlie was doted on in one way or another, and that Caitlin got a breather every now and then. Caitlin was tired to the bone but there wasn't one thing she would change. She was absolutely smitten with Charlie, no matter how cranky or fussy she was in the mornings, or how many times she woke up Caitlin during the middle of the night, demanding to be fed. Caitlin was simply overjoyed to have another child.

"Hey, mom, want to read a chapter in Harry Potter?" Caitlin's six-year-old asked, and Caitlin smiled apologetically.

"I can't right now, Abs, I've going to put Charlie down for her nap. Ask your father," she replied.

"He can't because he's working, and then taking Charlie to the park later," Abby mumbled, and Caitlin paused on the stair, one foot raised to the next step.

"Why don't you go with them, Abs?" Caitlin asked, bouncing Charlie a little bit against her hip. Abby sighed.

"I don't like the park, mom," Abby muttered, and she shook her head. "Never mind, it's fine. Pay attention to your new kid. I'll just read on my own."

Abby walked away, shoulders hunched, and Caitlin felt a pang in her heart. She knew that with another child around, Abby might feel some jealously, despite how much Caitlin wanted to protest that idea.

"Abs…" Caitlin trailed off, unsure what to say. Then, Charlie started crying, and Caitlin knew she was fussy, and desperate for a nap. Sighing, she made her way upstairs, singing softly to Charlie.

XXX

One afternoon, when Caitlin was rocking Charlie, Abby came running into the house, her father telling her to slow down.

"Mommy, I got an A on my math homework!" Abby sang, and Caitlin winced. Charlie's little fist stretched, and a crinkle worked itself across her brow, but other than that, she kept sleeping.

"Abby, quiet please," Caitlin murmured, and the six-year-old frowned.

"Aren't you happy, mom?" Abby asked, shoulders hunching. Caitlin nodded her head.

"I'm very happy, baby. We'll have to celebrate," she said, smiling. Abby looked at her excitedly.

"Really?" Abby whispered, and Caitlin nodded.

"Yes, we'll order pizza and you and I can read tonight, after Charlie goes to bed," Caitlin replied, and a smile stretched itself across her face.

"Thanks!" Abby said, before running off.

"Walk," Barry called for a second time, and Caitlin shook her head fondly.

Unfortunately, with one thing or another, Charlie took much longer to put down to sleep, wanting to be held longer than normal, and by the time Caitlin was ready to read with Abby, the little girl had fallen asleep, book clutched in her hands. Heart clenching, Caitlin sighed and eased the book out of her grasp. She tucked her blanket in around her and turned on her night light.

"I'm sorry, sweet girl," Caitlin murmured, before walking out of her room and going down to hers', tired from another long day.

XXX

"Mom, do you love me anymore?" Abby asked one morning, and Caitlin froze from where she was flipping pancakes in the pan.

"What?" Caitlin asked, shocked.

The six-year-old wasn't deterred by her mother's surprise.

"I said, do you love me anymore?" Abby repeated, and Caitlin felt her heart crack a little bit. She looked at Barry, who was frowning.

"Sweet pea, why would you ask that? Of course, your mother loves you," Barry said, but Abby shook her head.

"She never has time for me anymore. She's always busy with Charlie," she mumbled. Barry and Caitlin looked at each other and nodded. Caitlin passed off the spatula to her husband and made her way over to Abby.

"Button, I love you. Nothing will ever change that. Not even having another daughter. It's just, Charlie needs my attention too, now. Can you understand that?" Caitlin asked.

"You still love me and are not mad at me?" Abby asked carefully, and Caitlin squeezed her daughter's hand.

"Oh, button, no," she promised. "Tell you what, after breakfast, how about Daddy hangs out with Charlie for a while, and we can have some momma/daughter time?"

Abby looked at her. "Really? Just the two of us?"

"Just the two of us, button," Caitlin replied, and Abby looked around, debating for a moment; Caitlin waited patiently. Finally, she smiled.

"Okay," she agreed, and Caitlin returned her smile. Barry brought the food to the table just then, and they all ate. Caitlin made sure to pay extra attention to Abby while her little girl explained what was going on in her class.

"We still have to order that pizza, Abs. We can do that tonight," Barry suggested, and she nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Alright, daddy," she exclaimed, and her parents shared a smile.

XXX

After breakfast, Caitlin stuck true to her word, and let Barry watch Charlie for a couple of hours. She and Abby built a fort in the living room, making sure to have extra drinks and snacks, then brought the current book they were on in the Harry Potter series. Abby even changed into her robes they had gotten her the year before, at Disney World. Once they were settled inside their fort, Abby sitting in Caitlin's lap, they began reading. Caitlin helped Abby navigate her way through the bigger words, but her daughter was smart; she typically didn't have any trouble with pronouncing them.

They read for a solid two hours, before deciding to go see what Barry and her sister were doing.

Barry was getting ready to put Charlie down for a nap, and Caitlin volunteered to let Abby and her do it.

"I can help?" Abby asked, and Caitlin nodded.

"Yes, sweetheart. You can help."

"I'm a big girl, I won't mess up," Abby promised, and Caitlin smiled.

"I know," she said simply, before picking up Charlie, and guiding Abby to where she slept. After placing her down, Caitlin lifted Abby up.

"Make sure she's tucked in nice and well, Abs," Caitlin instructed, and the little girl obliged. She started humming softly, before eventually singing, and Caitlin smiled as her little voice filled the room; she took after her father when it came to be being able to sing.

"Sleep tight, Char, I love you," Abby murmured and kissed her head. Caitlin smiled.

"Good job, button," she praised, and Abby smiled.

Caitlin and Abby spent the rest of the day doing things together, and when Charlie demanded attention, Abby helped her parents give it to her. Caitlin knew Abby was going to be just fine.

Author's note: Anon asked for a jealousy prompt. Hope you like it. Xxx