The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com
Prompt: 20
Pen Name: Glitterb1234
Pairing/Character(s): Bella/Renesmee
Rating: K
Word Count: 476
Photo prompts can be found here:
thetwilight25 dot com/round-eight/prompts
"ATCHOO!"
Nessie sniffled pitifully, and I stroked her forehead sympathetically. When you're a parent, there is almost nothing so heart-wrenching as having a sick child. Being a vampire doesn't make that any better; if anything, it's worse because you aren't used to feeling so helpless.
"I feel yucky Momma," she whimpered.
"I know baby. Why don't you try and get some sleep? You might feel better."
Nessie shook her head. "Can't sleep. Too yucky."
She held her arms out, her eyes sparkling with tears, and I pulled her into a hug, cuddling her against my chest and rocking her back and forth, making soothing sounds in the hope that it would calm her. I began searching through my limited human memories, trying to recall what Renee had done when I'd been sick as a little kid. Then I remembered the one time I'd caught a cold while staying with Charlie and his solution to my resulting bad mood, and knew I had the perfect answer.
"How about we do something fun?" I asked Nessie.
She lifted her head from where it was tucked into my neck. "Like what?"
"Wait here," I said with a secretive little smile. I tucked her back into her bed and went to the bookshelf, taking out a few of her favourite books as she watched me curiously. I left the room and found the electric lantern we kept near the door for emergencies, took everything into the master bedroom and quickly set up my surprise. Then I went back for Nessie.
She was confused at first when I scooped her out of bed, blanket and all, and her confusion only increased when she saw the seemingly random pile of stuff on the big bed.
What are we doing Momma? she asked through her thoughts.
"Something fun, I promise."
I set her down on the bed, turned off the main light and sat across from her, then pulled the thin sheet over our heads before switching the lamp on. Ness watched me curiously, pushing the sheet up when it fell in her way.
"Welcome to our own little fort." I said, smiling. "You're grandpa did this with me when I was sick, and I had so much fun I forgot I was feeling yucky. Now, which book shall we start with?"
Nessie was dubious at first, but eventually the novelty of being in a new environment and the distraction of trying to keep the sheet up had her giggling instead of whimpering. When Edward got home from his hunt and joined us, a bemused look on his face, she was back to her usual smiley, bubbly self.
As silly and childish as it was, what might otherwise have been a miserable day became a wonderful memory, and even the rain pouring down the window couldn't spoil our collective good mood.