Drabble 20: Tremble.
"Nat?" He asks, "Natalie, honey, are you okay?" He begins to panic; she'd been doing so well. Natalie shakes her head and, coughing violently, she spits blood into the sink.
"Daddy, what's wrong with Mommy?" The wide-eyed little girl asks slowly, standing in the doorway.
The color drains from his face, "Nothing's wrong, Mels, go back to bed, okay? I'll be in to tuck you in in a few minutes."
She sighs, nodding, "Okay, Daddy…"
"Natalie?" He strokes her cheek with his thumb, then kisses the pale, cool skin, "You think you'll be alright, tonight?"
She suddenly squeezes her eyes shut, shaking her head and turning away. "Sh-she…" Natalie gasps, on the verge of tears, "I didn't want her to see me, Henry. I never wanted her to see me like this."
"Nat, she's a smart girl. She was going to find out sooner or later." He sighs, rubbing her back, "Don't worry, you're going to be okay. We're all going to be okay, remember?" Henry gives a pitiful attempt at a smile before, "I'm going to check on Melody."
"Should I g-"
"Nat…" He stares at the blood on her shirt and she crumbles, sobbing into his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I'm so s-sorry…"
"What? Natalie, you can't apologize. It's not your fault. I… gotta go check on Mels, now. Yell if you need anything."
She nods miserably, forcing herself to leave his embrace and sit at the kitchen table. Henry nods and walks down the hall to see his five year old trembling under the covers, clutching a stuffed bear for dear life.
"Mels, are you okay?" He sits beside her on the bed, smoothing back her dark curls. He's always been glad that she got her mother's genetics on that one.
"…Daddy," She whispers into her pillow, finally turning to face him. The terror in her eyes shatters his already broken heart, "There's something wrong with Mommy, isn't there?"
Henry doesn't respond right away, instead, he pulls his onto his lap and hugs her. "We love you, you know that? Mommy and I love you so much."
"Daddy." She stares up at him seriously, "What's wrong with Mommy?"
"There's nothing wrong with your mother." He snaps, something so out of character, it scares poor Melody half to death, "Shi- sorry, Mels. You…" Henry swallows, "You know how Mommy goes to the doctor's a lot?"
Melody nods, "Mommy's sick, isn't she?"
He laughs at her innocence. "Yes, Melly. Your mom's sick. She's very sick, though. But she's going to get better, okay?" He tilts her chin up as her lower lip starts to tremble, "We're all going to be okay."
"Promise?"
"Promise." He flicks out the light, "I love you."
"I love you, too. Goodnight, Daddy."
"Goodnight, Melody."