It had been 6 weeks since Joel came home. He was downstairs playing with Beth. the twins were napping, they needed it. They are teething. Meredith walked in from being outside to grab some tomatoes and other things from the garden to start canning to get their supply built for winter. She could hear Maggie groaning upstairs.
She put her basket on the kitchen table, and walked upstairs to check on Maggie. "Maggie?"
Maggie sniffled. "Go away!"
"What's wrong honey?" She asked going to turn the knob and it was locked.
"Mama, please go away." She cried.
"Maggie. Please, what's wrong honey? Can i come in to see if you're okay?"
Maggie kept quiet for a minute, "Okay.." She leaned over and unlocked the door.
Meredith opened the door, went inside and shut the door.
Maggie was covered with a towel. "Mama.. I.."
Meredith sat on the side of the tub. "What's wrong honey?" She looked seeing her jeans in the sink with water.
"I didn't know what to do." Maggie cried.
"Oh honey." Meredith rubbed her back and hugged her softly. "You're just...at that age." She smiled slightly, sighing. "What were you doing when it happened?"
"Playing with Beth and Joel.." Maggie wiped her eyes with some tissue that Meredith handed to her. "My stomach started hurting, so I got up and Beth asked me if i cut myself.."
"Oh." Meredith nodded listening. "I'll get you some clean clothes - Do you want your sweat-pants?"
Maggie nodded. "I'm all yucky though.."
"Well, you can take a shower, that'll help with your pain. I'll get your pj's and show you how to put on a pad and we'll talk more."
Maggie nodded wiping her eyes some more. "Thank you mama." she said softly and slowly got up.
Meredith started her water and took care of the dirty clothes and towel. She checed on the kids, and saw they were playing good. She got them going in the washer, and grabbed some clean comfy clothes for Maggie and some stuff from her stash. She gave up trying to keep some in each bathroom. When Beth was 4 she though they were long stickers and stuck them on the door. That was fun.
She knocked and came into the bathroom. Maggie was done. She handed Maggie her clothes and left the room to let her get dressed.
"You can come in, Mama." Maggie said opening the door.
Meredith went back in and sat down on the tub. "You remove it from the package, take off the back lining…" She started explaining stuff to her and walked her, to her room. "Get in bed, and rest. It'll be okay." she smiled.
Maggie nodded doing what she said and got into bed after. "Stomach still hurts though." she muttered softly.
"Well. do you want to try a heated pad? " She asked.
Maggie nodded and got one going for her and brought it in, she gave her some ibprophan also.
"It'll get better honey." Meredith said sitting down. "Just take it one day at a time."
Maggie nodded. "Thank you mama." she said hugging her.
"You're welcome honey." She smiled kissing her head. "As me or your dad if you have questions."
Maggie nodded and fell asleep. Meredith cleaned up the bathroom also. She grabbed the twins and took the kids outside to play, while Maggie slept.
"Where's Maggie?" Hershel asked getting out of the truck after getting home.
"She's resting upstairs."
"She not feeling good?" He asked sitting down kissing her.
"Yes and no." Meredith nodded, "Shes just… growing up." She smiled slightly.
"I…" Hershel nodded. "Enough said." He chuckled slightly. "She seem okay with it?"
"As much as she can be. Gave her a lesson, and we talked. She'll be okay."
"That's good." Hershel smiled. "Not sure how I would have handled that - being alone." He sighed.
"You would have been fine." Meredith smiled rolling her eyes.
"I hope so.. Still can't believe she's 11…" He sighed, rubbing his face. "Gosh I'm getting hold."
She laughed hearing him. "Me too."
Hershel chuckled and shook his head. "You're 25… I'll be 45 this december."
Meredith smiled and kissed him more. "Well. I love my big ol' bear." She laughed.
"I love my Turtledove." He smiled pulling her in his lap.
Meredith smiled and cuddled close, relaxing in his lap, watching the kids play with him.
