Sammy and Ilna, love you guys.

REAL McRollers and Readers thank you for all the wonderful feedback. Thanks, Super for another great title.

That's the Rule

When his daughter's eyes fluttered open, Steve moved from the rocking chair to sit on the edge of her bed and bent to kiss her forehead. Both to say good morning and to check her temperature.

"No fever," he said more to himself than to Angie.

"Hi, Daddy."

"Hi, baby girl. How's your tummy?"

"It's better," she said, lifting her Frozen pajama top up to look at her belly. Her voice wasn't at its normal level of exuberance, but she definitely sounded better than the previous evening when a bit of a tummy bug had caused her to be sick. "I'm all done throwing up," she announced.

He smiled and turned when Catherine entered the room and stepped around Cammie to repeat the same kiss-to-the-forehead. "Someone definitely looks better this morning," she said. "I'm going to drop DJ off and go to work. I'll call and check in and Daddy's going to stay with you today," She ran a hand over Cammie's head. The dog had stood from her place at the foot of her littlest human's bed and pressed up against Catherine's leg with a small 'I'm here for Angie' chuff.

"You're coming to school with me?" The five year old moved to sit up, searching her father's face.

"No, sweetheart, you're staying home to rest and Daddy is staying with you," her mother explained. "You were sick twice. Once after dinner and then later last night, so you need to sleep in and rest today."

"But…" the little girl's eyes shifted between her parents. "We're starting a new book at storytime today, and I'll miss it. And letter practice, and numbers, and play time…"

Catherine placed another kiss on her daughter's head. "And you'll catch up tomorrow."

"Can I try to go to school?"

Catherine glanced at Steve. "Like father, like daughter."

He raised his brows. "Two words, Operation Influenza."

"Seriously? That was…" she thought for a second. "Eight years ago."

"Your point being?" He chuckled at her expression.

Before she could answer, Angie patted his arm. "Can I try to go to school?" She repeated.

"Sorry, not today, sweetheart."

"But…"

"No buts, baby girl. No school for 24 hours after you throw up. That's the rule," Steve added, knowing the word rule would get her attention.

"Daddy's right, you don't want to make anyone else catch your tummy bug and feel sick, right?

Angie sighed audibly and shook her head, making both parents smile. She was clearly feeling much better. "Can we read a story?"

"We can read all the stories you want," he reached for the cup of ginger ale on the bedside table. "Take a sip."

Just then DJ appeared in the doorway. "Are you feeling better, Angie?" He asked, just as he'd asked his parents several times that morning and as a last question before falling asleep the night before.

"She's much better," Catherine said as his sister nodded. "We're just explaining how we have to wait 24 hours after throwing up before she can go to school."

"It's a rule," she repeated forlornly.

"It is a rule," DJ said. "That's so nobody catches the stomach bug, right, Daddy?"

"Right." He stood and offered a hug. "Have a good day. Grandma and Grandpa will pick you up."

"Okay." He smiled and hugged Steve again before giving his sister and Cammie hugs of their own. "I'm happy you're better. Rest and eat some toast and soup. Remember like you made me when I threw up?"

Angie pushed back a mass of messy curls and nodded. "Nonna's special soup."

"Right. See you later, and when I get home, I'll read you a story before dinner."

She brightened at that, making both parents smile. "Okay."

"Let's go, sweet boy," Catherine kissed his head before doing the same to Angie. "Hold the fort, Commander," she told Steve, and pecked his lips.

He chuckled as she followed DJ out of the room and downstairs.

"Okay, baby girl, how about if I bring you a piece of toast with a little bit of jelly? Do you think you can eat some?"

She nodded and his smile grew. "That's my girl." Guiding her back to a resting position, he ruffled Cammie's fur. "You have the watch," he told the dog, who placed her paws across the little girl's legs and rested her head on them with a contented sigh.

Several hours after a short early morning nap that left her feeling even more like herself, Angie and Steve were ensconced on the sofa with Cammie at their feet and Pumpkin dozing on the chair.

"SNAP!" When another one goes…" Steve read from the colorful book.

"Seven on a twig!" Angie giggled. "Out in the sticks." She knew the book by heart, but pointed to each word. They continued on until the end, when she swiveled to see his face and said, "I'm hungry, Daddy,"

"That's the best thing I've heard all day." He booped her nose. "I have Nonna's pastina soup all ready. Sit tight and I'll be right back."

Snuggling under the afghan, she smiled when he rose to get the soup and picked up another book and began to read it outloud to Cammie and Pumpkin.

Steve was back in the time it took to heat the soup and grab a few crackers. Setting her up with a little tray, he helped her scoot forward and she began to eat while he dug into a turkey wrap of his own. After a few minutes, she asked, "How's your lunch?" between bites of cracker and he grinned.

"My wrap is good, thank you. Is your soup yummy?"

"It's very very yummy." She scooped up the last of the soup and tiny stars and brought the spoon to her lips. Just as she finished, Steve's phone rang with a facetime call. He placed the tray on the coffee table and sat back against the sofa cushions, where Angie leaned into his side and leaned closer to look at the screen.

"It's Grandma! Hi Grandma. I threw up two times and I'm resting with Daddy because you can't go to school after you throw up. It's a rule so nobody gets sick," she said while waving at Elizabeth.

"Mommy told me you had a tummy bug, sweetheart. I'm so happy you feel better."

"She kept down toast this morning and just said she was hungry so she had Nonna's pastina and crackers," Steve said while kissing the top of Angie's head.

Elisabeth clapped, making the little girl smile. "That sounds like you're much better." Her eyes shifted to Steve's. "Mom and I are making some plain baked chicken and baked potatoes, I'll bring it when we drop off DJ so you don't have to cook."

"Thanks. You don't have to do that," he said with a smile. "Not that I could stop you."

"You're welcome, and you can't." Her smile was one of Catherine's mischievous ones. "What are grandmas for if we can't bring over some yummy comfort food?"

"Wonderful grandmothers," he said sincerely. "Which is exactly what you are."

"Oh, thank you, honey." She blinked at the heartfelt sincerity in his tone. "If you need anything, just text me or Joseph, we'll make a run on the way to drop off DJ."

"We're good." He smiled. "Thanks again, Elizabeth."

"My pleasure." She blew a kiss. "See you later, sweetheart, rest with Daddy."

"Okay, Grandma. See you later." Angie waved again before they ended the call and she settled down with her head on the soft pillow her daddy had placed on the sofa.

Steve put the phone on the end table and straightened the afghan over her legs.

"Daddy?" She moved to study him for a moment.

"What, baby girl?

"Are you gonna be a grandpa someday?"

He barked a laugh. "A what?"

"A grandpa."

"Well that's up to you and your brother. I hope so, but not for a very long time. Why?"

"Your hair." She touched his temple. "It's getting a little more white over here. You know, like a grandpa."

"White hair doesn't mean someone's old enough to be a grandpa." He grinned, clucking her under the chin.

"But lots of grandpas got white hair." She studied him. "How old do you hafta be to be one?"

"There's no age, really. It's when your kids grow up and become moms and dads. And I'm hoping that'll be when you're about forty…" he smiled at how they even got on the subject.

"How come more grandpas have white hair than grandmas? Are grandpas older?"

"Some people's hair turns color earlier than others."

"Are you older than Mommy?" Angie ran the fringe of the afghan through her fingers and he noticed her eyes getting heavy.

"Just a little older."

"Mommy's hair isn't turning colors." It was a sleepy murmur as she snuggled up again and closed her eyes. She was much better but her sleep had been disturbed last night and he was hoping she'd nap again for a little while.

"And as long as there are hair salons, it probably never will." He chuckled, thinking he'd share Angie's observation with Catherine later.

"Daddy?" She was nearly asleep.

"What, Angie?" His voice was low and soothing.

"You'll be a very very good grandpa. 'Cause you're the best daddy."

"Thank you, baby girl. I'll definitely try to be." His words fell on his sleeping daughter's ears. And Steve smiled contentedly while pushing a few stray curls from her forehead.

#End thanks for reading

The book Steve and Angie were reading is: Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole

Find all our stories (in chronological order!) on our website: marirealmcroll dot wixsite dot com backslash real-mcroll

Or in the McRoll in the REAL World community here on fanfiction dot net Find us on Tumblr: mcrollintherealworld dot tumblr dot com

You can join our mailing list by emailing us realmcroll at yahoo dot com with: Add me, please! in the subject line. Or just drop us a line to say hi! We love hearing from our readers.

And find me on Twitter asking your opinions on all things McRoll in the REAL World! at Mari21763 and add #REALMcRoller