Babysitting
"Emily's sick." Leah declared, Claire sitting on her hip. "And Quil's on a family trip."
"So?" Paul asked, not once looking away from the television. He was sprawled in the Clearwaters' living room, having decided to have an action flick marathon.
"So." Leah stalked over, foot hitting Paul squarely in the chest. He grunted and moved with it, laying flat on the couch, rather than his half sitting half slouching position. Leah dropped Claire onto his lap.
The toddler blinked at him, innocently.
"Have fun." The she wolf chirped, already halfway out the door.
"Woah wait - what am I supposed to do with this?" He was dangling Claire upside down, playfully jiggling the girl.
"Watch her. Her diaper bag is on the counter."
Leah slammed the door.
Paul swore.
ZZZ
Emily had left instructions in the diaper bag. Both on how to change a diaper, and how to warm up milk. Paul wondered why Sam wasn't doing this, because really, it was his little family member.
The girl might be pack, but he had never been keen on her. It was horrible of him to say, but she was just a baby. The imprint made her pack, but it bothered him, in more ways than one. He didn't want her to be here - not out of selfishness, but out of love. No child should be subjected to what they had to live with.
Paul was a strong wolf, a strong man, but when Claire continued her screaming into the third hour, he was near tears.
He had ripped a chunk of his own hair out already. He just didn't know what to do. He wished Sue was home.
In the end it turned out a bottle and a changing were all the girl needed. When she had stopped screaming, she had started cooing. Little hands stroked his healing bald spot, and the toddler gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
He settled on the couch, a deep, rumbling growl soothing Claire. She was laying against his chest, bouncing slightly as he used his arm to rock her. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, face nestled into his neck.
He fell asleep just moments later.
Seth took several pictures when he got home.