Alex flung the door open and quickly hurried into her lounge. She stumbled into the room, swaying about as she panted heavily and looked around frantically while Mason watched her from the couch amused.
"Where have you been?" He asked fighting back his laughter.
"The… council… meeting…" Alex wheezed tightly clutching her sides as a burning stitch quickly spread through her upper half. She paused and deeply inhaled before panting, "where's… Neave?"
"Sorry love, I had to put her to bed," Mason told her sensitively. "I tried keeping her up, but she got really tired."
"No!" Whined Alex launching herself on to the couch and sprawling herself out next to Mason, "I've missed her so much!"
"I know, I bet you have darling." Mason kissed Alex on top of her head, and she took that as her cue to huddle against him, tightly squeezing his torso as she nestled her head on to his muscular chest. "I've saved you some cottage pie if you want some?"
"Thanks, but I think I'd rather have some of this," smirked Alex as she snapped her fingers and conjured up a bright yellow and red bucket that had been filled to the brim with fried chicken. Alex leant forward and grabbed a piece of the chicken. As she bit into the crunchy golden skin some of the fat and grease spurted out causing Alex to chuckle and Mason to roll his eyes.
"That is so unhealthy, what's wrong with my cottage pie? Neave likes it!"
"I've just had a really hard day, I need junk food!"
"Do I want to know?" Mason asked. Alex instantly shuck her head as she continued to devour the chicken. "Okay then," he chuckled. Mason leant forward and picked up a piece of chicken, Alex grinned at him as she watched him take a bite. "What?" He mumbled with his mouth full of chicken, "I've had a hard day too! my little girl went to day care."
"How was she?"
"Good, apparently. Except for causing ructions with the other kids."
"That's my girl," smiled Alex.
The room became quiet while the young couple ate their chicken, apart from when Alex loudly munched on a crispy piece of chicken when a deafening wail come from Neave's room. Alex and Mason froze as they listened to her cries become progressively worse. Nervously, they both turned to each other and crossed their greasy fingers, praying her crying would eventually stop. But to their disappointment Neave gave another booming cry which swiftly echoed through the apartment.
"And that's your cue!" Mason beamed, gently pushing Alex off of the couch. "Your turn!"
"Uh! Fine!" Scoffed Alex teasing Mason playfully, "I'll go, but only because I haven't seen her today!"
"Well yeah, that should be reason enough to want to see your daughter," he laughed as he watched Alex strut slowly in to the nursery.
She vigilantly peered through the small opening in the doorway only to find Neave stood in her white crib, clutching on to the rails tightly whilst letting out a sombre moan. She attempted to rattle them violently as she gave yet another blood curdling scream. Alex quickly rushed over to Neave and picked her up before cradling her into her chest. She tried desperately to soothe her but instead Neave fought against her mother and continued to cry, making her porcelain complexion fiery red and scattered in small droplets of sweat. Neave then began to pound her fists against her own forehead. She began to wince and groan as if she was in pain. Alex stood in thought for a moment and then cautiously she placed her hand on top of Neave's forehead only to feel her skin burning beneath her hand.
"Mason!" Alex called returning to the living area, "she's burning up again!"
"What?" Mason hurried over and began to feel Neave's head, "I'll get her medicine and I'll make a doctor's appointment for her tomorrow." He went over to the kitchen cupboard and pulled out the medicine bottle. "Maybe I'll be able to miss my class so I can go with you both."
"Mason you're not missing school," Alex told him as she sat down on the couch cuddling Neave in her arms. "Like we said last night she's probably just teething if not, it'll still be nothing serious. You can't miss your classes for that."
"Alex it'll just be for one day, I can't let you take her alone."
"I wont be! I'll find someone to go with me."
"Oh yeah, like who?"
Alex sat in the doctor's office with Neave sat on her lap, she held on to her tightly as she wriggled around on her lap so she could get a better look at her new surroundings. The room was painted in a sickly yellow that almost blinded the patiently waiting patients and was as also plastered in wizard health and warning posters. The endless rows of faded sky-blue cushioned chairs were filled with a variety of wizards and other magical creatures such as elves with earaches, angel's with balding wings and witches who needed stitches. Alex got a tighter grip on Neave as she attempted to jump off her mom's lap when she seen the centaur receptionist walk past and return to her station.
"That's not a pony sweetie, it's a person," she whispered to her.
Neave whimpered and held on to her pink pacifier, she began to munch on it whilst she rubbed her head vigorously. Her groans quickly became louder and Alex instinctively began to cradle Neave and soother her while planting light kisses on to her head.
"Urggh" she heard someone moan. Alex looked up to see her mother strutting over in her shiny high heeled shoes carrying over two cups of hot coffee. Theresa looked around in disgust as she dodged the other patients and made her way over to Alex.
"Why does her doctor have to be based in the wizard world?" She asked Alex, "I see enough of these freaks at home!"
"Thanks mom," scowled Alex, "way to be supportive!"
"Aww I'm sorry Mijha, but you know I'm not good with this stuff."
"I know. But thanks for coming mom."
Alex turned and smiled at Theresa who then pulled her in to a bone crushing hug. "Aww sweetie! Anything for my mijha, besides us moms need to stick together." She reached out her arms and shot a smile at Neave, "now give Nanna a hug!" Alex passed Neave over to her mom who began to hug her closely and kiss her numerous times across her face. "Ooo! Nanna's favourite girl!" She cooed before giving her yet more kisses on to her chubby rosy cheeks.
Neave whined and rubbed her head before reached her arms out to Alex, "Mmm, Mmm." She mumbled as she strained against Theresa's tight grip, trying to lean forward towards Alex. Reluctantly she took her back, feeling bad for her mom who watched on disappointed.
"Oh, fine then," she scoffed.
"Mom, it's nothing against you. She's just sick."
"I know Mijha, don't worry I was just teasing you." She rubbed Alex's arm reassuringly and then gently stroked Neave's silky hair as she smiled at her sympathetically.
"Yeah sure," said Alex sarcastically laughing at her mom.
"Hey! I can't help it if I'm the favourite Grandmother!"
"And what about the others? Mason's mom, Mason's grandma, dad's mom… Your mom!"
"It's not my fault if they don't see her enough! Besides you're my Neavie Noo aren't you sweetie?" Theresa gave Neave another swift kiss on her head which caused her to hold on to it again and cuddle closer to Alex, whining to herself quietly as she forced her eyes shut. "Poor baby," Theresa whispered, "don't worry Alex, she'll be okay."
"Yeah, I mean it's probably nothing."
The room then filled with an irritating buzz followed by the centaur receptionist speaking in to a microphone, "Neave Greyback! Dr. Butcher will see you now."
The doctor's office was painted in a dated teal colour, the suffocating green colour clashed horribly with the pale furnishings and it made the already small room seem unbearably claustrophobic. Theresa looked around in disgust and tutted loudly, "do people in the wizard world have no taste? I mean, look at this place!"
Alex turned to her mom and laughed, "what?"
"Well look at this place! And the waiting room is no better. Plus, look at the way your father has designed the lair! It's disgusting! So drab and dull… and don't even get me started on your grandparents place!"
"What? So is mine and Mason's apartment 'drab?'"
"No!" Exclaimed Theresa, "but that's because you've had my influence. You've been lucky to inherit my sense of style."
Alex began to chuckle to herself when the door opened and in walked Dr. Butcher. His black gelled hair shone in the hazy lighting along with the thick lenses in his thick black rimmed glasses. He tugged on his long white lab coat as he approached his light wooden desk and sat down opposite Neave and Alex. "How's my favourite patient!" He exclaimed enthusiastically shooting a big smile at Neave who watched him with interest as she sat firmly on Alex's lap. "Wow! You've gotten so big! Your turning in to such a pretty girl, aren't you?" He looked up to Alex and Theresa, "nice to see you Alex… And your older sister."
Theresa giggled like a child and fanned herself with her hand, "oh you!" she tittered causing Alex's stomach to churn.
"So, how can I help?" he asked.
"Well," Alex began apprehensively, "for the past few nights Neave has been really burning up and she's just been screaming like really, really loudly for no reason!" As Alex continued to talk she became quickly flustered, this resulted in her practically shouting in Dr. Butchers face as she continued to talk. "Oh! And she's been hitting herself in the head! She just sits there screaming and pounding herself in the face… And I have no idea why! I mean who does that?!"
"Are you finding parenthood stressful Alex?" smirked Dr. Butcher.
"A little," Alex admitted.
Dr. Butcher gave a laugh as he approached Alex and Neave, "don't worry that's normal. I haven't met a parent who doesn't find it stressful. Now, let's take a look at you missy," he said to Neave as he pulled out his wand and slowly hovered it against her forehead. The long white wooden stick like wand shone bright green rays which hummed softly as they brushed against Neave's fair skin. After a few moments of quiet, the light disappeared and Dr. Butcher took a step back from Neave.
"Her temperature is normal now," he announced. "How has she been sleeping?"
"She hasn't" Alex yawned, "not much as she usually does anyway."
Dr. Butcher sat behind his desk and waved his wand in front of him. a flash of light sparked from his wand and suddenly a hologram appeared in front of them, hovering in the air. The hologram was a profile full of information revolving around Neave, it contained details such as her full name, her parents, age, medical history and family history. The list went on, and on. Alex and Theresa watched in amazement as they watched all this information on Neave unfold in front of their very eyes. Theresa sat forward and strained her eyes as she tried to read the small white print against the neon blue background.
"Uh huh…" exhaled Dr. Butcher, reading the hologram in interest.
"What is it?" Theresa asked.
"Nothing, I just thought I'd check Neave's history before I carried out any more examinations and I've noticed she's missed one of her shots…"
Theresa turned to Alex and glared at her angrily, causing Alex's jaw to drop in shock and her eyes to widen in surprise. "Excuse me!" She exclaimed, "I'm not the only one responsible for her!"
"I know," Theresa agreed, "so who took her to all of her other shots?"
"Mason…"
"And who was supposed to take her to her last one?"
"Me…"
"And why didn't you?"
Alex sighed, "I forgot…"
Theresa rolled her eyes, "I knew it!" she turned to Dr. Butcher and smiled sweetly at him, "Doctor, is it too late for Neave to have the shot?"
"Of course not!" He rose from his seat and walked over to Neave, "anything for my favourite patient. In fact, why put her through the upset of having a shot when I can just do this…"
He then carefully proceeded to circle his wand above Neave's head, almost instantly Neave began to glow orange. Alex squinted her eyes as the light became brighter until suddenly after a blinding flash Neave returned back to normal.
"Ta da!" Dr. Butcher announced, "all done!"
"Thanks doctor," said Alex hugging Neave close to her, "so what happens now?"
"Well, considering it's flu season and Neave was missing one of her vital shots I think that might be the cause of it. Hopefully she should return to normal, but she still might still be feeling off for the next few days. It's just a side effect of the shot. But she's fine, there's nothing to worry about."
"Thank god!" Sighed Theresa, "I hate seeing my baby sick."
"Yeah, thank you so much," Alex told him, "we just had no idea how to help her."
"Anytime you need me, I'll be here!" Dr. Butcher told them, "but honestly she's fine. You have one very happy healthy little girl. I'm sure she'll be no trouble."
"Uh huh, well we'll see about that…"