"Let's go to bed baby," JJ's warm voice echoed through the house. Em was feeling small that evening and had been playing contently on the living room floor when she heard her mamas voice. Scrambling to her feet, the brunette collected the toy cars she had been playing with and carried them into their office where her mama had been working. At the sound of soft footsteps, the blonde spun around in her chair and smiled when she saw that her girl and collected up her toys without being prompted. Taking the cars from her girl JJ beamed at her,
"Thank you, pumpkin, you did so well clean up your toys all by yourself. Good job!" she praised, which caused the brunette to beam back at her caregiver. She allowed herself to be led from the office by her hand and into the bedroom where JJ but the toys away in the cupboard where they kept Emily's little things.
"Do you want a bottle of milk baby?" she asked gently, the brunette had already been washed and dressed after dinner and she had been playing in her pyjamas,
"Yes, please mama," she responded quietly, fidgeting on her spot on the floor,
"Those are some really good manners baby, well done," the blonde praised again, this time the little blushed a little at the praise, laughing a little the blonde turned around,
"I'll go get it, be a good girl for me and wait on the bed till I come back," Jennifer told her as she left the room. Nodding even though her mama's back was turned, the brunette clumsily climbed onto the bed and crossed her legs, making sure she was siting nicely for when her mama returned.
It didn't take long for the blonde to come back and when she did, she smiled to herself, her girl was sitting up straight, perfectly still like a child in school would. She knew that Emily loved compliments and praise, it was something she never got from her mother, and she relished in it now. JJ however would never make her girl sit like that, so long as she was on the bed not causing trouble, she could be lying upside down for all she cared.
"Wow lovebug you're sitting so nicely, thank you." She praised, watching as her face broke out into a huge grin and her cheeks flushed red and the praise. "Come on it's time to have your bottle," she said gently and moved over to the bed, she quickly scooped the brunette up into her arms and moved her, so she was positioned over her lap, her head resting in the crook of the blonde's arm. JJ brought the bottle down to Emily's lips and watched as the brunette hesitated for a moment before latching on, she gave a few tentative sucks and big brown eyes glanced up at baby blue ones,
"Go on sweetheart," Jennifer encouraged gently, this was all it took for Emily to start drinking her milk at a steady pace, closing her eyes, and enjoying the love and attention from her mama. When she was finished the blonde moved the bottle over to the nightstand and gently moved her, so Emily was straddling her, her head coming to rest over the mentally older woman's shoulder and patted her back till she burped, knowing that the brunette was prone to stomach aches. The blonde held her there for a moment longer and then shifted so the two were lying together, pulling the covers over them she reached over to switch of the light,
"Goodnight lovebug sweet dreams,"
"Night, night mama."
The thing that woke Emily up first was the thunder. It growled overhead and she froze against the bed. She took a couple of deep breathes hoping the storm would pass right over them. There was another growl of thunder and then the lighting flashed. 'Well, there goes that hope,' she rolled her eyes to herself. Both JJ and she were light sleepers, they had to be in their job, but unlike Emily who didn't even really like thunderstorms when she was big, JJ didn't mind them and could quite happily sleep right through. Desperate to be able to see something Emily reached over to switch on her nightlight. When the little stars didn't go onto the celling and add a gentle glow to the room Emily began to really panic. More lightening and thunder. Whimpering a little, she tried in the vein to get any light in the room, within her reach to work, none would turn on and then a voice supplied in her head that the power must have gone out. That made the whole situation even more scary. More thunder. It was louder this time, it was really close to them, it was going to get them! Part of her wanted to hide under the bed, but a bigger part needed her mama, she needed her awake now. She hesitated a moment, feeling bad about shaking her awake but when another flash was lighting happened it was enough to spur her into action, crying softly the brunette shook the blonde,
"Mama, wake up," she said, when her mama only stirred, she tried harder, "Mama please wake up," this caused the blonde to open her eyes, bat before she could say anything more thunder was heard, in blind panic the little threw herself at her mama,
"Its going to get us mama, help please help!" she cried desperately clinging tightly to the shirt JJ was wearing. At first Jennifer was confused, her tiredness made it hard to realise what was happening but when Emily jumped onto her crying for help and more lighting flashed, she understood. Her girl hated thunderstorms.
"It's alright sweetie, I've got you it can't hurt us," she whispered holding her little one close to her chest and rocking her slowly from side to side.
"Mama its gonna get us," Emily continued to cry,
"No, no baby. We are safe inside, it can't get us in here, we're safe I promise pumpkin," the blonde tried to reassure her little. Emily nodded a little but didn't stop crying and shaking in her arms. Continuing to rock her girl she reached over to try and turn on a light, it didn't work,
"Huh the power must have gone out," she murmured to herself,
"Yeah mama, the thunder is making it stay dark," Emily whined pushing her face further into the blonde's chest. Reaching over to her phone, JJ saw it was charged enough and turned on her phone torch, before placing her phone down on the bed.
"See baby, mama made the dark go away, we have light now. The thunder can't stop us," she whispered, pushing her girl back a little so she could see the light that now glowed in the room.
"Mama made the dark go away?" Emily whispered wiping her eyes,
"Yeah baby, the thunder and lighting will go away soon to," she told her softly, reaching for a tissue and helping her blow her nose and wipe her eyes.
"Okay mama," Emily whispered dropping her head onto the blonde's shoulder. She stayed there for a while, shaking every time the thunder and lighting came but otherwise staying calm but then she fidgeted, and fear came over her. She had to pee, but it was dark and scary in the bathroom, she couldn't go alone! But she really didn't want to use her pull up while she was awake and knew she had to go. Her whole body froze up and she whimpered, hearing this the blonde glanced down at the girl in her arms,
"What's wrong love bug?" she asked gently, pushing her back, but still keeping her in her arms so she could look at her face,
"Potty mama," she whispered her face flushing red,
"Okay baby, let's go," she said climbing off the bed and pulling the girl into her arms so she could carry her,
"Dark mama," she whispered clinging tightly to her caregiver,
"I'm going to bring the light with us pumpkin, don't worry," the blonde told her softly, grabbing her phone before carrying the brunette into the bathroom, she put her phone on top of the sink before placing her little on the floor and helping her pull her pyjamas down and lowered her onto the toilet. Not a moment too soon because then a crack of thunder could be heard, and Emily jumped her bladder loosening and a steady stream could be heard. The thunder didn't let up and Emily desperately wanted to be in her mama's arms, but she couldn't while she was on the potty, she swung her legs and hands uncomfortably and whined. JJ immediately knew what was wrong, luckily for the brunette and she crouched down taking the little's hands,
"I'm here love bug, I'm here. You're not alone, I promise. I'm here," she reassured her girl squeezing the pale hands tightly and comforting her the entire time she was using the potty. When she was done, JJ helped her finish up and wash her hands, by the time they had made it back to the bedroom the lightening was gone and the thunder was much softer, bouncing Emily on her hip she told her,
"See pumpkin the thunder is leaving now," the brunette nodded and allowed herself to be dropped onto the bed, sitting alone just long enough for her caregiver to crawl back in next to her. Once they were both settled under the covers the lights flicked back on.
"The light is back!" Emily cheered, snuggling close to the blonde,
"Yep pumpkin, I think the worst of the thunderstorm is over now," the blonde flipped of the lights, apart from Emily's nightlight and plugged her phone back in. "Let's try and go back to sleep now yeah, we'll keep your nightlight on, and I'll be right here if you need anything," JJ reassured her girl,
"Alright mama, but don't leave the thunder may come back," the brunette whispered her voice still showing some fear,
"I promise baby, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here when you wake up in the morning. I love you so much pumpkin, that's right settle down under the covers and get some sleep, you're safe here. I love you."
"I love you to mama," Emily responded, closing her eyes, and cuddling close to her mama, and when she woke up in the morning as promised JJ was right there, not having left her side once.