It felt like it had been ages since Didi had heard that sound. That wonderful, magical, blessed sound.
Tommy's laughter.
She was sitting at the kitchen table, going over the list she and Betty had begun to make up on how to repair her relationship with Tommy and also change how she mothered Dil. Some of it was so simple she felt guilty having not already thought of it. Things like "Set aside a time to read Tommy a bedtime story, NO distractions" or "sew tags onto stuffed animals to tell which belong to Dil and which to Tommy". Others were going to be far more difficult; Betty had suggested that Didi try letting Dil just cry out his frustrations and while her instincts were to instantly race to her child she saw now that she couldn't keep doing that. It felt like 9 times out of 10 Dil just cried because he wanted attention… and the fact that it happened whenever her or Stu were giving Tommy attention made her swallow. She thought back to all the times Dil had been peacefully resting and she'd finally gone to Tommy… only for Dil to begin screaming again. She couldn't help it though… her baby was clearly distressed and needed her…
But as Betty had pointed out they'd done that with Tommy several times. When they'd first tried weaning him they had let him fall asleep after crying alone in his room. They'd felt like monsters but they'd done it. Why not for Dil? Why was he so special as to merit her full attention rather than Tommy?
She'd done just that today. Originally this was supposed to have been a day with just her and Dil but after he'd thrown his tantrum and hurt Phil she'd realized that Dil needed a taste of tough love. She she'd taken him to Lou's room, where his crib still was, and plunked him down for a nap.
And she'd left the room.
He'd screamed and sobbed bloody murder… for about 8 minutes. And then he'd settled down and gone to sleep. Didi had worked on the chores and when Dil had begun to fuss over the baby monitor she'd gone up and changed him before giving him a few toys to play with and leaving the room. He'd gotten upset and begun screaming again and she'd tried to see if he was hungry but he'd just kicked and flailed and in the end Didi once more left him alone, allowing him to cry himself out. It soon became clear to him that she wasn't at his beck and call and he'd stopped crying. Only to start up when he apparently forgot.
That had been her entire day.
But now she didn't hear sobs or cries. Instead it was giggles. Not the loud kind that were the norm for Tommy, where it seemed like he was trying to get the whole world to smile. These were far softer, like the echoes of laughter, but they were still there.
"Hey Didi!" Stu said and she turned only to stare at Stu in surprise. Rather than carrying Tommy he had him strapped to his chest… and her son looked like he was happy to be there. He didn't beam and reach out for her like he might normally have, and that did break her heart, but he wasn't fussy or staring sadly at the world. He smiled… a ghost of a smile, yes, but a smile… and kicked his little legs as Stu walked in with several bags of groceries.
"What's all this?"
"Needed to grab some things," he said as he set the bags on the counter. Once both his hands were free he carefully pulled Tommy from the carrier and turned him around so he could look him in the eye. "So you want an early supper, champ, or want to play in the living room while mommy and I talk?"
Tommy was quiet before he turned his head towards the fridge.
"Supper it is," Stu said, settling him into his highchair and began to unpack the bags, Didi moving to get Tommy some sliced up fruit he could nibble on. "How was your day?"
"Good and bad," she admitted. "I of course missed Tommy." She leaned down and kissed him on the top of the head then set the bowl down in front of him that was full of melon balls. Normally Tommy would have squealed and begun to play with his food as much as he ate it but now he merely began to eat the food, quietly observing them. It was because of that that Didi walked over to Stu as he continued to unpack the groceries and whispered, "I had a little problem with Dil."
Stu listened as she told him about their youngest's tantrum (Didi had only caught the end of it so wasn't sure what completely the reason but wagered it came from Phil and Lil sitting far away from him; most likely to keep Dil from stealing their Mr. Potato Head) and how he'd thrown a rattle at Phil and hit his nose.
"Is he okay?" Stu asked.
"Betty called and said he's fine… seems like he forgot all about it once they got home. But I put Dil on… well, is it really a time out if I was going to put him on a nap anyway?" She shrugged. "But I left him in his crib for the rest of the day. A few toys to play with but that's it. Really no point anyway in bringing him down if there is no one for him to play with." She sighed, glancing at Tommy who was nibbling on a melon ball. "Not that the babies really play with him anyway. Honestly he more just sits there and interrupts their games with his crying. I thought having him around would be good for him and Tommy but I think he's just too little. He gets upset he can't play and then upsets them by screaming."
Stu though was also looking at Tommy, concern written on his features. "Deed… do me a favor and look at the back of Tommy's head."
"What?"
"Just do it. Really look. But don't make it obvious. I don't want to upset him."
Didi did so, walking over to Tommy with a smile. "Did we have funny with daddy today?" Tommy merely continued eating, not looking up at her, and she forced herself not to sigh. But all thoughts of Tommy ignoring her fled as she leaned down and looked at the top and back of his head, seeing the faded bruises and little bumps all over his scalp. It looked like he'd taken a ride in the washing machine!
And, considering what had happened today, she had a feeling she knew just how Tommy had gotten so hurt.
"Didi," Stu said quickly, pulling her away from Tommy but still where she was visible to him. The baby glanced up at them and Stu smiled and waved, though Tommy merely went back to eating. "Breathe."
"How… how did we not notice that Stu? Oh, my special little guy… his poor head."
"We were focused on Dil. And the few times Tommy did cry…" he trailed off.
"Dil did too," Didi whispered, all at once seeing what had happened. Dil took something of Tommy's, or Tommy didn't do exactly what Tommy wanted, and Dil would hit him. And when Tommy cried Dil would begin to cry and Stu and Didi would just ignore their oldest, figuring he was 'old enough' while Dil was 'just a baby'. Except… "Oh, he must hate us!"
Stu was thinking the same thing but didn't say it, not wanting to upset her any more than she already was. "The point is we know now and we can fix this."
"How?" Didi said. "Dil's now hurt two kids! He thinks it's perfectly fine! What if this keeps happening? What happens when Dil begins hitting other kids! Betty was understand this time but what if Dil broke Phil's nose? Or what if he REALLY hurt Tommy? Gave him brain damage? Oh Stu!"
"Drew and I talked… I went to see him today, that's where I got the carrier. Anyway, he mentioned that Angelica went through a toy flinging phase and him and Charlotte did a mix of things. They got her softer toys-"
"But that will just encourage him more," Didi protested. "Unless you're saying we NEVER give Dil any hard toys again."
"Of course not. That's why we also take things away when he does throw. Yes, he'll begin to cry but we'll just have to be firm. He'll learn that throwing things or hitting people means he gets those toys taken away and maybe gets sent to his room."
"I suppose your right…" Didi said, glancing back at Tommy. "Did Drew say anything else?"
Stu swallowed. "Actually… he did."
By the time he was done explaining about colic Didi was near hysterical and it was only Stu holding her tight that kept her from collapsing to the floor in a heap.
"I'm the worse mother ever!" she whimpered.
"No you're not," Stu said. "We made some mistakes… every parent does."
"This isn't giving our baby the wrong socks to wear!" Didi protested. "With Tommy we completely neglected him and allowed him to be injured and then we were poisoning Dil!"
"We weren't poisoning him," Stu reassured her, not arguing the Tommy point because, frankly, she was right. They had done wrong by their oldest son and he would regret that for the rest of his life. "Colic happens… babies can get it even if on formula. But Drew suggested some brands we could try that are very sensitive on the tummy. And if that doesn't work we'll go with lactose free ones."
Didi sighed. "Well… I suppose you're right."
Stu nodded. "After dinner I'll go down to the basement and use some of my child-safe paint to mark bottles that will just be for Dil. That way Tommy isn't getting his formula and Dil isn't getting milk."
"And it will help ensure we actually monitor how much Tommy is getting," Didi said. "I have a bad feeling Dil has been stealing his bottles… Tommy hasn't been gaining weight like he was before Dil was born. And the way Dil goes through diapers… Tommy was never this bad."
"Right, good idea. Maybe I'll color code Tommy's bottles too, that way he doesn't feel left out."
Feeling a bit more calm Didi walked went to the fridge to begin working on her and Stu's supper. Dil was currently napping (and she was glad she hadn't given him a bottle beforehand!) and so he'd get a late supper… and an early bedtime as the poor baby was very tired from his day of screaming and fits. "How was your day with Tommy?"
"Great!" Stu said, brightening up. He reached over and patted Tommy's hand, the boy glancing at him before returning to his supper. "We went for a walk on a nature trail… Drew's idea. Tommy loved it… and I honestly think its good for me. Sometimes I spend too much time in the basement and I can tell my ideas are getting…"
"Out there?" Didi teased.
"Yeah," Stu admitted as she heated up the left over chicken from the previous day's supper. "But being out there with Tommy… I began thinking about all sorts of new ideas and inventions. And improvements too! I already have an idea how to lower the cost on the Reptar Wagon that will make it more interesting to the Reptar People for mass production."
"Oh, that's wonderful Stu!" Didi said. Seeing Tommy was done with the melons she went over to the bread the two of them had made the day before and cut off another slice, buttering it up and giving it to him. "There you go… Tommy Bread for Tommy." For the first time since Stu had taken him out of the carrier she saw her son's eyes light up and he attacked the bread with a gusto.
Maybe Stu was right… maybe they were finally on the right path.
For Tommy the day was a good one and it stayed good! After he ate him and mommy went to the living room where she let him play on the couch while she watched the news; he didn't pay too much attention to that but it was nice to be next to mommy. Then she gave him a bath which was great because Dil wasn't there to scream and thrash and throw things at him so Tommy could just enjoy the water. Then daddy had come and changed him and taken him to his room and read him a story! It had been just like it had been before Dilly was born!
Tommy went to bed with a smile, hugging his bear.
As for Dil his day hadn't been a good day… but when he woke up he found that it wasn't bad anymore. The little baby wasn't sure if it was a GOOD day… but it wasn't bad. First off daddy had finally come home and taken him out of his crib, which was nice because Dil had grown tired of being there. And… it had gotten rather lonely having no one around. Philip and Lilip had gone home because he'd hit them and Tommy was gone and he didn't know if he'd ever come back…
But daddy had carried him down to the kitchen and given him a bottle which was nice. Except…the bottle tasted different. Not bad… just different. He'd thought about throwing a fit because it had changed and he hated change but then Dil had remembered that mommy hadn't hugged him and sung to him after the last time he'd gotten upset so maybe if he got too upset daddy would leave too! So he'd drank the milk and he had to admit… it tasted good. Just different from what he was used to.
Then daddy had given him a bath but again he'd done it in the sink which was better than the big ocean in the bathroom. And when he'd been dried off daddy had taken him upstairs and put him in pajamas told turned on his mobile and wished him a good night.
And that's when things got really strange.
Dil work up later… and his tummy didn't hurt.
Every single time he went to bed he'd wake up to his belly rumbling and clenching. And it would hurt so much that he'd cry and mommy and daddy could and try and comfort him but he'd only feel better when he went poopy. But it would be so wet and stinky that after a few minutes he'd need a change… and then he'd be hungry again!
But when he woke up… his tummy didn't hurt. And he realized that he'd used his diapee in his sleep. And while it was cold it wasn't as full as normal and didn't stink so much. So when he did begin to fuss and cry it wasn't the loud agonized shrieks he normally let loose. It was just… crying. And that didn't hurt his throat or make his body ache either.
And mommy came in and changed his diaper and gave him a bottle and he noticed this one had purple on the top but soon he was sleepy again. And he went to sleep… before he even finished his bottle!
The entire night went like that!
Everyone in the Pickles house had a better night's sleep. Didi and Stu were still woke up by the boys but it wasn't as jarring… in fact other than it happening twice as much it was much like Tommy waking them up when he'd been Dil's age. A bit of a cry, a few minutes of care, then back to sleep. Tommy only woke up once and fell back to sleep in the middle of his changing and Dil didn't howl for what felt like hours on end. Thus it was, comparatively to what they'd dealt with for the last 4 weeks, a well rested Didi and Stu who got up to begin the day.
Because the babies were actually sleeping for once the two of them risked going down and eating breakfast. Coffee was drunk, some cereal started, and for the two parents they actually felt normal for the first time in months.
Thus when the baby monitor began to issue Tommy's gurgles the two went up, Dil's baby monitor tucked in Stu's pocket, in order to greet him.
Tommy, for his part, had woken up and began to play with his mobile when his mommy and daddy came in, smiling at him. For a moment he was confused, especially with Dil's crib not being there, and he wondered if him having a brother had just been a dream. But then the baby monitor had gone off as his mommy had given him a fresh diapee and his daddy had gone off to get his little brother who was… somewhere. Tommy wasn't for sure.
"Alright sweetie, today your friends are coming to visit," his mommy told him, tugging on his favorite blue t-shirt. "Hmm…" she said, pulling on the end. "This is getting a little small… I think you and I need to go shopping tomorrow. Would you like that?" she tickled Tommy and he giggled. But unlike when his daddy had tickled him the other day Tommy still smiled after she was done. Maybe the old shoulder had worked this time!
In Grandpa Lou's room Dil he had woken up feeling… good. No hurting tummy, his diapee was wet but it wasn't so bad it made him want to spit up, and there hadn't been any nightscares. In fact he didn't remember dreaming at all, which was a relief. His daddy came in and lifted him up and took him back to his room and… wait, why wasn't he in his room?
"Now Dil," his daddy said as he changed him, reaching out and wiggling his bare toes, "today you need to be good. Phil and Lil and Chuckie are coming to visit you and Tommy and I want you to behave. No hitting, no throwing things. You need to be good… can you do that?"
Dil blinked at his father. Tommy? Was he coming back?
"Tommy!" Dil exclaimed, wiggling a bit. If he was coming back he wanted to get down there right now! But in his excitement and hurry he kicked the baby powder and the next thing he knew both him and daddy were covered in it. Dil stared at his father before giggling… then letting out a sneeze.
"Well, I guess we need to get you cleaned up first," his daddy said, taking him to the bathroom to grab some washcloths.
Because of that delay Tommy ate breakfast by himself and was in the playpen when Dil was finally brought down to eat his, the two missing each other by only a minute. As Stu fed Dil some apple sauce Didi, remembering one of her list items from the other day, took the chance to grab the toys that were Dil's and began to stitch purple little tags on them. Tommy watched her as she did so, playing with his Reptar doll.
"Okay sweetie," Didi said, "I'm going to take a few of your toys and mark them so we all know they belong to you, okay?" She gently picked up Tommy's stuffed lion. "I'm going to give it right back… I just want to put this little tag on it so everyone knows this isn't Dil's… its yours. Tommy's lion."
"oooooh," Tommy said, eyes wide. Was that the problem? Had they never tagged his toys so Dil thought everything was his?!
"Maybe Daddy can put some blue paint on Reptar's foot, since I can't sew a tag on him." The doorbell rang. "Stu?"
"Getting it!" he called out and Tommy saw his daddy walk by holding Dil, heading for the door. "Hey Chas, hey Betty."
"How ya doin', Stu?" Betty greeted as Chas led Chuckie inside.
"Good. Rested. How is Phil?" He looked down at the little boy who, upon seeing Dil, hid behind his mother's leg and stuck his tongue out.
"Philip! Sowwy!" Dil squeaked but Phil just glared at him and Dil sighed, disappointed.
"Aw, the pup forgot all about it." She walked in and smiled at Didi. "Hey Deeds, how about a cup of mocha?"
"Oh, why not!"
"Hey Chas, let me show you the cradle I've been working on… Dil loves it!" Stu said, motioning for his friend to follow him downstairs, taking a wiggly Dil with him.
"Hi Tommy!" Chuckie said as he and the twins joined their friend.
"Hiya Chuckie!" Tommy said. "It feels like forever since I saw you!"
"You seem happier," Lil said.
"I am happy! The old shoulder worked!"
"It did?" Chuckie asked.
Tommy bobbed his head. "Uh huh! The yesterday before yesterday mommy and me made bread!" He paused, his good mood slipping. "But then she and daddy forgots about me and focused on Dil." He quickly brightened. "oh, but then daddy and I visited Uncle Drew and then we went for a walk! Daddy got this thingie I ride in! It was like what Grandpa wore when we went to the museum! And I got to sleep the entire night without Dil waking me up once!"
Phil frowned, rubbing his (admittedly fine) nose. "Hopefully he goes to sleep and never wakes up!"
"What do you mean?"
"Your brother hit Phillip with a rattle when he gave him the old shoulder!" Lil complained.
"Oh… I'm sorry guys."
"Well, it's okay," Phil finally said. "You didn't do it… and mommy got us ice cream and candy cuss I was so upset! Maybe I'll let Dil hit me again! Then we might get cake!"
"I want pie, Phillip."
"Cake Lillian!"
"Pie!"
"Cake!"
Chuckie frowned. "I don't think there is anything I eat that would be worth Dil hitting me!"
"Hey guys, let's not talk about Dil anymores. I'm still giving him the old shoulder, remember? Let's play a game!"
"What do you want to play?" Phil asked.
Tommy thought about it for a moment before beaming. "Oh! I know! My grandpa and I were watching tv a while ago and he missed something someone said because I…" Tommy blushed, "spit up a bits… but he then used the clicker and made everything go backwards!" Tommy undid the latch on the playpen and hurried out, grabbing the tv remove before returning to his friends. "Let's take turns using the clicker to make us go backwards!"
"I… I don't know…" Chuckie said.
"It's be fun, Chuckie! Here, you use it first!"
Chuckie did so and Tommy, with a giggle, began to walk backwards and babbling what he thought backwards talk would sound like. After a few moments Chuckie began to laugh.
"Hey… this is fun!"
As the babies played Stu finally came up from the basement and placed Dil in the playpen. "Now remember… be nice." He patted Dil on the head before heading to work on his newest idea for an improved baby carrier, leaving Dil to watch Tommy and his friends play.
"Tommy!" Dil screamed in relief. FINALLY his brother was there and he could apologize and make things better! But Tommy, other than stopping for a second, didn't pay attention to him no matter how much Dil yelled and that was when he remembered his brother saying he wasn't going to talk to him anymore. But if he didn't talk how could Dil apologize?
He sniffed, very upset, but instead of crying he decided to be a big boy and watch. Maybe Tommy would come close and he could grab him and hug him! Hugs were the best!
But Tommy and his friends kept playing some game and though it took Dil a while to figure it out he finally realized that when they pointed the black thingie at each other they went backwards! Dil giggled and clapped as they moved about, delighting in how silly they were… but he also began to think and in his jellybean-shaped head an idea formed…
"It's my turn!" Lil complained when Phil had held the remote for a bit too long.
"Nuh uh, I hit reverse on my turn to go again!"
"You can't do that!" lil said, grabbing the remote.
"I can!"
"Can't!"
"Can!"
"Guys, stop!" Tommy pleaded but it was too late and the remote flew from their grip, landing and skidding over the carpet before coming to rest next to Dil, who happily grabbed it.
"Whelp, so much for that game," Chuckie said sadly.
Tommy though frowned. "Wait… look!" Dil pointed the remote at himself and then began to twitch and babble. "I… I think Dilly's trying to play too!"
"Aw, he can't play, he's too little," Phil complained.
"Not with a magic remote!" Tommy said, his imagination already going full throttle and, as it always went, soon the others were joining him in the imagination game. When Dil pressed the remote it wasn't just him that went backwards but everything! Birds flew backwards, mommy and daddy walked backyards, the mailman TOOK mail instead of giving it…
"Ew!" Lil giggled as Spike went backwards… doing his morning potty.
Then Dil laughed and pressed the button twice and everyone held on as the world went crazy, spinning around them…
…and Tommy found himself next to Dil playing with the ball they'd fought over a few days ago.
Dil still reached and took the ball but this time he merely smiled and with his best effort threw it back to Tommy. It didn't go that far and Tommy had to toddle closer to get it… but he could tell Dil had tried.
"Tommy! Tommy!" Dil said, holding out his arms.
"You… wanna play catch?" Tommy asked.
"Yay!"
Tommy smiled, unsure, and rolled the ball to Dil… who again tried to toss it back. Tommy had to get really close because Dil was so little but soon the two were laughing as they played. But then Dil suddenly grabbed the remote and Tommy cried out in surprise as the world spun around him again and when it stopped they were further in the past, his friends there as well.
"When are we now?" Lil asked.
"I remember this!" Chuckie said. "We were building the biggest block tower ever!"
Phil scowled as he looked at Dil, who cringed. "Till he threw his bottle at it."
Tommy though picked up a block. "I don't think Dil will do that now…" He put the block on the tower and Dil began to clap and cheer. Soon he and his friends were hurriedly building the tower, Dil calling out their names and laughing with them. Tommy even decided to be nice and lifted Dil up so he could put a block on the tower.
Then the world spun around and Tommy swallowed, finding only him and Dil… in the forest.
"Bottle?" Dil asked softly, gesturing at the diapee bag and Tommy remembered what had happened last time: Dil had drank all the milk, stolen then ripped the blankie, and then laughed when Tommy got muddy and cold. But this time?
This time Tommy gave his brother the bottle and Dil only drank a little before offering it to Tommy. He took a few sucks and then passed it back. The two did this several times til they got their fill.
"All gone," Dil said gently before yawning. Tommy, smiling got the blanket and covered the two of them but this time Dil didn't yank on the blankie but instead curled up next to Tommy, shutting his eyes-
The world swirled.
Tommy and Dil were in the living room with Tommy's friends. Dil had Tommy's blankie but held it out. Now though it was Tommy's turn to be nice and instead he got his bear and began to play with Chuckie while Dil watched, never even thinking of hitting Tommy on the head-
The world swirled.
Dil was crying and Tommy tugged on his mommy's dress, wanting a story. Noticing this Dil calmed and reached out for his brother.
"Aw, I think Dil wants to hear the story too," their mommy said. Their daddy picked Tommy up and tucked him in while Didi set Dil down next to Tommy, taking the book and opening it. "Once upon a time…" Dil and Tommy cuddled up to each other.
The world swirled.
Tommy was in the hopsickle and his grandpa carried him over to his mommy, who was holding Dil. The baby sucked on his binkie as Tommy was set on the bed. The two stared at each other but instead of not knowing who the strange baby was they were meeting the two understood… they were brothers.
"Tommy? This is your brother Dylan. Dil? This is Tommy."
Tommy gasped. "Baby…" he repeated, leaning closer.
This time though Dil, rather than grab his nose, gently took Tommy's finger and squeezed it.
"See, they already love each other," Didi said as Dil smiled.
"My Tommy."
"My Dil."
The world swirled one last time and Tommy and his friends found themselves back in the present.
"Tommy," Dil said, eyes watery. "Dil… sowwy." He held out his arms wide. "Love Tommy."
" I love you too, Dilly," Tommy said, leaning down and hugging his brother, neither noticing the adults watching with tears in their eyes.
Phil scoffed. "I still tolerate him."
~MC~MC~MC~
Author's Notes; And that's the end… kind of.
Basically the main plot of this story is done. Things have been resolved, everyone is in a better place. What may come later are one shot happy moments. But no more nightmares, no more tears. Only happiness.
However… keep following me as we zip ahead months into the future as I begin my newest project! Rugrats Season 10! Taking place a couple months after the final episode, Kimi Takes The Cake, Season 10 imagines what would have happened if Rugrats had continued on while also allowing the characters to grow. Phil and Lil are 2. Tommy is a couple months away from 2 (but still happily running around barefoot and in diapers). Dil is 8 months old and can crawl and somewhat talk. But the babies still get into crazy adventures!
A preview of the first few episodes of Season 10!
1) Ten Little Cookies. Angelica, seeing a chase to mess with the babies, tells them that if they are bad they will be turned into cookies. But when the babies begin to disappear one by one with gingerbread cookies that look just like them appearing even Angelica fears that she might be next.
2) Anything You Can Do Dil Can Do Better! Dil is excited when his latest accomplishment is put in his baby book… only to grow annoyed when he learns Tommy was far younger when he first did the feat. Growing frustrated that Tommy is 'commplishing' things sooner than he is Dil decides to try and make everyone think Tommy is a baby baby so HE'S the more mature brother.
3) Scary Stu. Despite everything he tries Tommy simply never seems to get scared by Stu's Halloween masks. Feeling bad for his daddy Tommy decides to pretend to be scared of him… all the time. Leading Stu desperate to make his son trust him again while Tommy quickly grows tired of having to pretend to be frightened but not wanting to hurt his dad's feelings.
4) Sibling Swap. At a carnaval at the park the different siblings all fight about what to do until their moms decide to split them up, pairing them off with a friend instead. And while at first the babies are glad to be away from their brothers and sister they soon discover that sometimes the best thing in the world is your brother or your sister
5) Director Commentary. After Phil overhears Howard watching a movie with director commentary the babies decide to provide commentary of their own as Stu and the gang show old home movies. Ever wondered what Tommy's first adventure was? Or how Kimi took her first steps? What was Susie like when she was Tommy's age? Find out with the Rugrats providing commentary!