DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Sofia the First. They belong to their respective creators. I only own the ones you don't recognize.
Enjoy!

"True Sisters"

Chapter 5

Sofia held tightly to Amber's hand during the ride to the hospital. Once inside, she continued squeezing her sister's hand while Dr. Hartfield got her set up in a room. She explained she would be back.

"Sofia, it's okay. I'm not leaving you until I have to," Amber comforted.

Sofia nodded as she let out a sob of fear.

"Amber, I need to ask you something," she said.

"What is it?" her older sister inquired.

Sofia was about to reply when Dr. Hartfield returned.

"Sofia, honey, we need to get a picture of your stomach to see what's going on. It won't hurt much. Amber can come with you. She can't be with you while the picture is taken, but it won't take long."

"Okay," Sofia said. She squeezed Amber's hand as they entered another room. Letting go when she had to, Sofia prayed the thing Emily had called an x-ray wouldn't take long. Sooner than she thought, she was reunited with her older sister once again.

"See?" Emily smiled at her. "Now we're going to take you back to your room and we'll figure this out."

Sofia glanced at Amber with fear in her eyes as she was wheeled back to the first room.

"What were you going to ask me?" Amber asked.

Sofia shook her head.

"Never mind. You won't feel comfortable and they probably won't let you anyway."

"Sofia, please, talk to me," Amber gently squeezed her younger sister's hand.

"Jade told me that when she had her tonsils out, they only let one person stay with her before it. Would you…" her voice trailed off and she turned away, sure Amber was going to say no.

Amber was taken aback by her sister's request.

"You want me to stay with you?" she asked. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have Mom or Daddy?"

"I'm sure," her sister insisted. "You've been helping me since everything started. I'll understand if you don't want to. You've done so much for me already."

Amber shook her head, which Sofia mistaken for refusal.

"It's okay. Mom can do it. Don't worry, I'm not mad at you," she assured her just as more pain hit her stomach. She cried out again, squeezing Amber's hand in the process. After the pain stopped, she asked, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, you didn't," Amber softly replied. She blinked back tears. Here her sister was in pain, facing possible surgery and she was worried about hurting her. As Amber gathered her thoughts together, she heard Rapunzel's words from a few months ago in her head.

""If you truly love your sister, you'll know what to do when the time comes…to make up for your deeds and prove you've grown, try putting other's needs before your own…"

Taking a deep breath, Amber made up her mind. "You really want me to stay with you?"

"Please? Only if you want to," Sofia told her. "I trust you to keep me calm."

"Okay," Amber declared, "I'll do it."

"I won't be upset with you if you change your mind," her younger sister assured her.

"I know. But I won't. I want to help you all the way. Besides, I know you would do the same for me. You have done the same for me. Remember the butterfly costume last Halloween?"

"Yeah," Sofia managed a small smile at the memory.

Just then, Dr. Hartfield returned, along with their mother.

"Mom," Sofia held up her arms and her mother wasted no time in giving her a hug and kiss.

"Sofia, I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. Your father got a little lost finding where they took you after we arrived and then James wandered off to find a snack…"

"It's okay," her younger daughter said. She turned to Dr. Hartfield. "What's wrong with me?"

"I'm afraid your Appendix has to come out," Emily gently revealed.

Sofia turned to her mother.

"Mom, isn't there another way?" her voice was trembling, breaking her mother and sister's hearts.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, there isn't," her mother gently informed her.

As the news sunk in, Sofia broke down in tears. But instead of reaching for her mother, she turned around and buried her face in Amber's shoulder.

Amber was startled, but got over it quickly and hugged her sister.

"Shh, shh, it's okay to be afraid. I'm right here, so is Mom."

Sofia just continued to cry, clinging to Amber as though her world was crashing down around her.

Just then, Roland joined them. He had left James with Baileywick. He frowned when he saw the state his youngest daughter was in. He went to rest a hand on her shoulder, but his wife stopped him.

"Give her a few minutes. She's just really upset. Amber's got it under control."

Roland nodded, even though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"What happened?" he frowned as he indicated their younger daughter.

"Sofia needs her Appendix removed," Miranda explained.

Roland gasped.

"We'll take good care of her You're Majesty's," Dr. Hartfield assured the royal couple.

"I know you will," Roland replied.

Sighing, Miranda approached their two daughters. She ran a hand through Sofia's hair, relieved when her little girl didn't push her away.

"Sofia, only one person can stay with you until Dr. Hartfield takes you in for surgery. Who do you want? Me or Daddy?"

Sofia lifted her head from Amber's shoulder and faced her mother. She made an effort to calm down as she answered the question.

"Actually, Mom, is it okay if Amber stays with me?" she asked. She gazed anxiously between her two parents.

"Amber?" Roland tried not to sound as surprised as he felt.

"Please?" Sofia begged. She could feel a new set of tears starting.

"Sofia, it's okay," Amber whispered in her ear. She wrapped an arm around her in support.

Miranda exchanged a look with her husband before leaning over and hissing in his left ear, "Just go with it." She frowned when she realized Sofia was getting more worked up by the second.

"Are you sure?" Roland asked.

"Yes," Sofia shakily replied. "Please, Dad?"

"I don't know…" her father hesitated.

"Please!" Sofia whimpered.

Amber took over the fight when she saw how upset it was making her sister.

"Daddy, please let me do this. I want to help Sofia."

Roland finally nodded when he saw the determined look in his eldest child's eyes.

"Okay. As long as you listen to Dr. Hartfield and don't say anything to upset Sofia."

"I promise," Amber earnestly said.

"Thank you," Sofia whispered as more tears of fear fell.

Miranda gave Sofia a hug. She could feel her heart breaking seeing her daughter in so much emotional and physical pain.

"It's going to be okay, honey. We'll be here when you wake up. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," Sofia softly replied.

"We need to ask Dr. Hartfield about this," Roland spoke up.

Miranda nodded in agreement.

Dr. Hartfield joined them a few minutes later.

"Dr. Hartfield, we had something to ask you," Miranda started.

"Okay. What's up?" she asked. While she waited for the Queen to continue, she turned to Sofia. "I'm going to give you some medicine to relax you. If you start feeling like you're gonna throw up, just tell your parents or me."

"Okay," Sofia whispered.

"It might burn a little bit," she forewarned her. "1, 2, 3…" with that, she injected the relaxer into the IV.

Sofia gasped as her arm started to burn. She let out a sob, followed by another as the sensation continued.

"Shh, I know it hurts. Take a deep breath for me," Amber instructed her sister.

Sofia tried, but it wasn't easy. She succeeded the second time around.

"Again," her older sister insisted.

Sofia complied.

"That's it…shh, it's okay, it's okay…" Amber continued to comfort her sister to the best of her ability.

"It burns!" Sofia sobbed.

"I know it does. Look at me," Amber instructed.

Sofia did so as more tears streamed down her cheeks.

Miranda looked on in amazement at the level of compassion Amber was displaying.

"Rollie, look at what Amber's doing. Can you honestly deny Sofia that right now?"

Roland shook his head.

"You need to trust Amber. They've grown closer over the last year and a half," Miranda assured him.

"I guess you're right," he admitted.

"What did you need to ask me?" Dr. Hartfield asked, turning to Miranda.

"Sofia wanted Amber to stay with her until she goes in. Is that okay?"
Dr. Hartfield thought for a minute.

"Let me go ask the head nurse on call."

Miranda nodded.

It wasn't long before Dr. Hartfield returned.

"She said it's fine. Usually we only allow parents or guardians to stay, but we'll make an exception this time."

Amber spoke up just then.

"May I go in with her until she falls asleep?"

Dr. Hartfield nodded.

"That's fine with me. I'll bring you back out to your parents until Sofia wakes up once she's asleep."

"Thank you so much for all your kindness," Miranda sincerely said.

"It's my pleasure," Dr. Hartfield replied.

Before Sofia knew it, it was time for her operation.

"Sofia, it's time to go in now," Emily gently informed her.

Sofia swallowed hard from fear, but nodded.

Roland got to her first. He kissed the top of Sofia's head. "I love you, sweetie."

"Love you too," Sofia tearfully replied. She returned his hug the best she could.

"We'll be here after you wake up," her mother assured her. "I love you, honey."

Sofia buried her face in her mother's shoulder for a minute or so, breathing in the familiar scent of her rose and lavender perfume. Pulling away, Sofia let Dr. Hartfield help her lie down. She reached her free hand out for Amber's and her sister responded in kind.

"it's okay, Sofia. I'm right here," Amber comforted.

"Sofia, I need you to sit up for one sec," Dr. Hartfield gently requested.

"Okay," Sofia did so with Amber's help. When she felt Emily start to take her amulet off, she frowned in confusion. "Emily, what are you doing? Stop!"

"I have to take it off. Jewelry isn't allowed in the procedure room," Emily explained. "I promise you'll get it back after you wake up."

"I'll hold onto it for you," Amber volunteered. Gulping, she added, "I'll keep it safe for you. I promise I won't use it this time. I've learned my lesson."

Sofia slowly nodded. She let Amber pocket her beloved necklace. She just prayed she wasn't making another mistake…