I'm a doctor. I have been for over a hundred years. I have witnessed things no man would ever be able to handle. I've held the hands of dieing children as they take there last breath. So how is it when my Edward gets a simple cold I act as like I have never stepped foot into a hospital.
Really I can't help but worry. I've already watched his mother and father die from sickness. I wouldn't be able to continue living if I had to watch my little one go as well.
"Daddy, my head hurts." A small whimper had me near panic all over again. "I know baby, daddy will make it better." He stretched his arms out towards me. "Uppy daddy?" I plucked out of bed without a thought. The heat radiating off him was concerning. "Baby, daddy needs to take your temperature. I need you to keep the thermometer under your tongue, ok sweetheart?" He barley gave me a nod. I gently got up to retrieve said thermometer. After popping it into his mouth I resettled him on my lap, not really ready to loose contact with him.
"Ok baby, open your mouth please." 102°! It was high, not dangerously high, but he was so little and vulnerable. I admit I was a bit panicky. But thankfully before I let Edward see my unnerved self, the doctor side of me kicked in. "Ok, Edward, daddy is going to give you a bath right now. Its going to feel cold, but we want to get your temperature down ok?"
"My t-te-temp, I too hot daddy?"
"Yeah sweetie, but the bath will make you cooler, ok?" He nodded, his head resting against my shoulder. Leaving the bathtub to fill with luke-warm water, I went in search of a pair of pajamas for after Edward's bath. Edward was currently clinging to me as if his life depended on it. To him it probably seemed that way.
"Come on baby, let's get you into the tub." I slowly lowered him in. "Daaaddiiiiie! Dat's cold!"
"I know baby, but it will make you feel better. I promise."
"No wike daddy, no good!"
"I'm sorry sweetheart, but you need to stay in a little longer." He continued to try to wiggle away from me. "D-daddy, c-c-cold! M-make st-stop!" Hot fevered tears began to streak down his little cheeks. "Shh, shh. Hold on a little longer baby." I quickly dowsed him with the cool water and lifted him out of the tub. "There, all better." I wrapped him in a fluffy white towel and began patting him dry. "We're going to have to take your temperature again." Edward nodded as he lifted his arms up to me. I obliged, of course, lifting him and settling him on my hip.
"Daddy?"
"Hm?" 99°, that's much better. "Will you wead to me?"
"Of course baby, what do you want me to read?"
"Wizard of Oz." My little boy mumbled sleepily. "Sure sweetheart." I slowly made my way to the bookshelf where Edward's favorite book was held. I took it down and settled into the couch. " Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife."
It didn't take long for Edward to fall asleep, his thumb tucked securely in his mouth. His cheeks were still flushed from his fever, and his nose was bright red. His eyes were crusted with uncomfortable tears and his hair was matted with new sweat. Every now and then he would shift in m arms, releasing a groan of discomfort in the process. My poor baby.
Gently, I stood and brought Edward to my bed. Laying him down, I settled next to him, brushing his bronze locks out of his face. He seemed to sleep peacefully, until around four in the morning.
"Daddy, help…"
"Edward, baby what's wrong?" He made a face and grabbed his stomach. "Daddy!" I got the hint. I quickly grabbed him and leveled him with the waste basket in the room, where he promptly vomited. "Daddy, hurts!" He wailed. "Shh, I know Edward. Its going to be ok, its going to be fine. You done?" He nodded, tears still sliding down his cheeks. "Let's get you cleaned up."
An hour later, I had emptied the waste basket, cleaned off a very unhappy little boy, and managed to rock said little boy to sleep. Thankfully, his temperature had lowered and he hadn't thrown up again. I, on the other hand, was thoroughly convinced I had started growing grey hair. Who knew one sick little boy could worry me so much.
The sleeping child in my arms sighed contently. "You're lucky I'm a vampire mister, I have less chance of dieing from a heart attack. I have a feeling I'm going to be very thankful for that in the years to come." Edward smiled in his sleep, sticking his thumb back into his mouth and giving another sigh. "You would find that funny you little troublemaker. But daddy loves you anyway."