Woo! Chapter two! I suppose Cedric is around six months old in this one. I hope you like it as much as the first. Enjoy!
Charlette sits in the center of the room and stares through narrowed eyes at little Cedric as he sits back against the foot of the couch. He gurgles and makes occasional intelligible sounds, but it is nothing like a real word. She curls her fingers around her legs as she leans farther and farther forward. So weird… "Mom," She keeps her gaze focused on Cedric. "Why does he have old man hair?"
"Charlette!" Winifred calls from the kitchen. "Your brother does not look like an old man."
Charlette snorts and sticks her tongue out in the direction of the kitchen. "She just says that cause she has to." She shifts onto all fours and creeps up on Cedric. "He totally has old man hair." She gets within reach and grabs for his bangs. She pinches them between her fingers and pulls them to the sides. She swishes the gray hair back and forth, half expecting them to spring to life and wrap her up as if a magic spell has possessed them.
Cedric's big brown eyes dart over every inch of her face. His o shaped mouth spreads into a smile and he gurgles especially loud.
"You think?" Charlette releases his bangs and decides to instead bat at them. "You're a fairy in disguise?" She nods. "I think so too. Only a fairy would have such weird hair. Hm…but where are your wings?"
Cedric lurches forward and grabs at her face.
Charlette squeals and jumps backward. She flip over and hits her head hard on the wood floor.
Cedric blinks and then giggles as the sight of her unusual movement.
For a moment Charlette just lays there, staring wide eyed at the ceiling. She blinks, then the spell is broken. Her lip quivers and tears well in her eyes. "Mooooooom!"
Cedric starts at her sharp scream and he too lets out a terrible cry.
Winifred races into the living room. "Charlie! Cedric!" Her eyes are wild and her heart beats like thunder in her chest. "What's wrong?" She scrambles over to her daughter's side. "Are you hurt?" She gingerly lifts her daughter from the floor. Her eyes dart to her youngest, but she is pretty sure he is only bellowing because Charlette screamed first.
"Mommy!" She throws her hands around her mother and buries her face in her mother's chest. "Ceedric made me hit my head," She blubbers.
A wisp of a smile flits across Winifred's lips. "Come now Charlie dear," She strokes her daughter's hair. "He's only a baby. He didn't do it on purpose. He was just curious."
"So," Charlette sniffles. "He shouldn't go grabbing my face."
Winifred shakes her head. "But weren't you doing the very same thing?" She pulls Charlette back so she can peer down at her daughter's face. "Messing with his hair?" She smirks and raises a brow.
Charlette's cheeks color slightly. "I-It's not the same!" She scowls. She sniffles despite her irritated front. "He looks like a fairy." She rubs the back of her head.
Winifred giggle snorts. "He's not a fairy dear. I promise." She leans over and places a kiss on Charlette's head where she bonked it. "There. All better."
Charlette manages a tiny smile. "Uh-huh." She wipes her arm across her eyes.
Winifred nods. She lifts Charlette from her lap and sets her aside. She rubs her daughter's head one last time before she turns from her to face her youngest child. "Cedric," She picks him up and cradles him. "It's ok baby." She makes hushing sounds. "Charlette just hit her head. That's all. She's fine." She bounces him lightly.
Cedric locks onto the sight of his mother's big blue eyes and gradually his screams taper off. They devolve into soft cooing. A tiny smile curls his lips.
"That's right." Winifred tickles him beneath his chin. "You're ok." She stands and shifts him into her other arm. "Come on Charlie," She extends her hand. "How about a nice, big Fly Cake to make you feel better." She smiles.
Charlette's face lights up. "Yeah!" She seizes her mother's hand and pulls herself up. Once on her feet she loosens her grip and locks her fingers between her mother's. "You make the best Fly Cakes mom." She grins from ear to ear.
"Thank you Charlie dear."
Charlette stretches up on her tip toes as she continues to walk, awkwardly now. "You'll love it Ceedric," she says inches from his face. "But no telling daddy." She presses a finger to her lips.
Winifred chuckles. "Only a little for him." She sets him in his highchair. "He can't have too much sugar." Or any at all really. She laughs to herself. She draws her wand from her sleeve and waves it once, two Fly Cakes appearing at the center of the table.
"Yay!" Charlette throws her hands in the air. She scrambles up onto her chair and snaps her hands out to seize one of the cakes. She chomps down on the treat, her cheeks filling to the point they bulge like a chipmunks.
Winifred chuckles. "Small bites there my little chipmunk."
Charlette jerks her head up and grins, sprinkles gleaming against her white teeth.
Winifred takes the second cake and breaks off a small part of the bread. She sets it in front of Cedric. "There you are Ceddy darling." She takes a bite out of the rest of the cake. "Eat up."
Cedric swings his hands at the cake, missing the first time. He tries again, one hand coming up short and the other scooping the cake up perfectly. He lifts it to his mouth and nibbles on it. His face light up and a laugh bubbles on his lips.
Charlette gasps. "You like it!?" She giggles. "You've got good taste." She gives a single firm nod. "Not completely weird."
Winifred swats Charlette atop her head. "Charlette," She shoots her daughter a sharp but not mad look.
Charlette sighs. "Yeah, yeah. I know mom."
Winifred shakes her head. "I know you do." She ruffles her daughter's hair. Charlette just needs to learn to act that way. Otherwise these are going to be some long and interesting years.
What do you think? I had fun (even though I should have been doing homework, opps). Whatever your thoughts are I'd love to hear them. Please review!