Welcome to chapter 11! Let's see what's in store for the little family today, shall we? Oh, and we're now in early November 1995.
CHAPTER 11 – Little Child
(P to Marlene) I was being tapped gently by someone. It felt like Mommy. I started to stir, even though I didn't want to get up. "Come on honey, it's time to wake up," she said to me. "Tired," I said. She sighed. "Come on sweetheart. You know we're going to the doctor today," Mommy said to me.
"No, sleepy," I said, closing my eyes again. "Come on little lady, or do I have to count to three? One… Two…" was all she said. "No Mommy, not three!" I pleaded. I was awake now. I didn't know what would happen at three, but I never wanted Mommy or Daddy to count that high.
"Ok Marlene. I won't count that high," she said, hugging me. "I love Mommy," I said happily to her as she hugged me. "I love you too baby girl," she said happily. "I'm hungry," I said to Mommy after we stopped hugging. "Did someone say hungry?" I heard Daddy say. He walked inside.
"Daddy!" I exclaimed happily, hugging him. "Good morning Marlene," he said to me. "I love Daddy," I said happily. "I love you too honey," he said to me. After we were done hugging, I smelled the food. "Fishy, Daddy?" I asked him. "Your favorite kind," he said, smiling. "Yay!" I exclaimed happily. He gave me a fishy. It was really good. "Good fishy," I said happily.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Mommy told me. "Sorry Mommy," I said after eating the fishy. I ate a few more fishies before being done. "Done, Daddy," I said to him. "OK Marlene," he said to me, before eating the rest with Mommy. "Time to go out," Mommy said to me.
I started to shake. I was afraid of not being in the cave. In the cave, I felt safe with Mommy and Daddy. "Scared," I said. Mommy and Daddy hugged me. "Would you like us to hold your paws?" Daddy asked me. I smiled and nodded. I then took Mommy's right paw and Daddy's left and started to walk out.
"Bright," I said when the lights hit my eyes. I closed them, it was too bright. Mommy and Daddy stopped. "It's ok honey. Take your time," Mommy said to me. In a minute, I opened my eyes and blinked. I was then ready again. "Ok," I said, telling them I was ready. They led me to our friends.
"Good morning," everyone said to us. Mommy, Daddy, and I all said hello back. "You're getting big Marlene," Olivia said to me. "I'm bigger," Sofia said. "No, I am," Ryan said. "Me!" Chloe said. "I'm the biggest!" Ryan said. "Calm down you four," Alexander said to us. We all stopped talking. "Still bigger," I thought to myself.
All the adults talked while us big kids sat down. We were still annoyed at having to wake up when we did. I liked our friends. They talked often and I was starting to learn about everyone. I was the youngest, as they were saying. Sofia and Ryan were old. Then Robert. Then Chloe. Then I arrived. I didn't remember that though.
Suddenly, I saw the doctor. "Are you ready honey?" Mommy asked me. I nodded nervously and held onto her, a little scared. So far I had been safe, but I wanted Mommy or Daddy with me when I went. "See you soon Marlene," Daddy said to me, kissing my forehead. I giggled, liking when he did that. I loved both Mommy and Daddy.
Mommy and I were picked up and carried gently to the doctor's office. I held onto Mommy when we got there, nervous. "It's ok Marlene, we'll be ok," Mommy said to me. I trusted her, but remained close. Something was put next to me and I held onto Mommy again. "It's ok honey, it's just a scale," she said.
"Ok," I said, trusting her. I walked onto it and sat down. "Cold," I said, shivering. "Don't worry honey, your bum bum will warm it up," she said, making me giggle. I was on for a few seconds before I was placed back off it. "Did I do good?" I asked. "You are perfect," Mommy said, making us hug.
I then felt like I was poked. "Ouch," I said, not happy. "It's ok honey, it's just a needle," she said. After a few seconds it stopped and I was much happier. "Not fun," I said, rubbing where I had been poked. "No honey, it's not fun. But it's important to be healthy," Mommy said. I trusted what she said and hoped I would soon be fine with the doctor.
We were then taken back home in the cave. "Are you ok?" Daddy asked me. "Yes Daddy," I answered happily. I suddenly became tired and yawned. "Do you need a nap honey?" Mommy asked me. "Yes," I answered. I relaxed down onto the floor. "Sweet dreams," Mommy and Daddy said to me as I closed my eyes. I peacefully fell asleep.
(P to Diana) I happily watched my beautiful daughter fall asleep. Looking at her, I couldn't believe that she was only 3 months old. 3 months ago I had been in labor with her. Now, she was peacefully sleeping on the floor. Her little voice was adorable. I couldn't believe that she was mine and Sebastien's, but she was.
Sebastien suddenly wrapped his arms around me so I turned and gave him a kiss. Our family was wonderful. "We make a gorgeous baby," he said to me quietly. "We do. Look at her little face. Listen to her voice. She's so adorable," I said happily. We kissed again.
As with everyone else, we couldn't bear to be apart from our daughter. She had a magnetism that we couldn't ignore. Sebastien and I cuddled as we watched our daughter sleep. She was even smiling, hopefully dreaming about us with her. I wanted to hold her in my arms, but feared I would wake her up. I wanted her to rest so she could grow to be big and strong.
She certainly had an attitude already. She was friendly when she wanted to be, but I could detect some jealousy about her height versus everyone else. That wasn't her fault though, that was just because she was the youngest. After all, Sebastien and I had been small at her age all those years ago.
For an hour our daughter napped before stirring again. "Welcome back Marlene," Sebastien and I said to her, kissing her. She giggled in her adorable way. This was family. This was love. I was so glad to be experiencing this with Sebastien as my husband and Marlene as our daughter.
"Did you dream honey?" I asked her. She smiled. "I did Mommy," she said happily. "What did you dream about?" Sebastien asked her. "I dreamed that we were swimming around and having fun," Marlene gloriously said.
We all shared a family hug, in love with each other. "I love Mommy and Daddy," Marlene said. "We love you too Marlene," Sebastien and I said to her, giving her a little kiss. She giggled happily, warming Sebastien and I's hearts.
We went back outside of the cave and watched the children play in the water. Since we were all Otters, they were all strong swimmers. We watched very closely, not wanting to lose any of our little babies.
"They're growing up so fast," Isabella said happily. "Just 5 months ago, the cycle of having children in our lives started," Charlotte said. We all flashbacked to when we had our own children. The pain had been long and horrible, but it was so worth it. Now we were all mothers and fathers.
All the children were swimming around, enjoying their youth. We all remembered when we were that young. How time had flown by. Through so many trials and tribulations, we had wound up at this point. Feeling energetic we all joined the children in the water and played with them.
Peace. That's what I felt in this moment. Nothing was happening that required our attention away from the children. I hadn't known this level of peace since the day before Sebastien and I had lost our parents.
But now, we had the skills to save everyone from that fate. Marlene was so cute and naïve. Hopefully she would never have to experience what Sebastien and I had. We would remain in her life as long as we could. Family was all I wanted and I had it.
I think that ended nicely. What do you think of little baby Marlene? Isn't she adorable? I hope you'll leave a review with your opinion of her. I have no notes today and hope you're all in good spots right now. See you next chapter!