C.J. hadn't witnessed the screaming and sobbing this time, but Toby told her softly before she takes Cerulean from Sam. C.J. is slowly realizing that this is becoming a regular occurrence. Which is seriously not fair.
C.J. brings Cerulean into the kitchen about an hour after the girl woke up from her nap. The President is already there, reading over another draft of the speech. He looks up as they walk in and smiles tiredly.
"Hello there, ladies. How are we today?"
"'M okay," Cerulean mumbles. The President takes a closer look at her face and turns to C.J.
"That so?" he asks. C.J. shrugs.
"I think we just need to relax for a minute, sir," she replies. "Is it all right if we sit in here?"
"Of course, of course. Can I get you anything?"
"I think we're all right, sir. Cerulean, do you need anything?" C.J. says.
"Can I have fancy hair, Aunt C.J.?" Cerulean says softly, pulling on the end of her ponytail. Sam puts her hair in a ponytail when he's running late, which ends up being at least half the time.
"Sure thing, sweetheart. Sit at the table." Cerulean climbs up into the chair on the President's right. C.J. pulls a chair out behind Cerulean's. The President puts his papers down and clasps his hands as he looks at Cerulean. C.J. sits down, taking Cerulean's ponytail in hand.
"So, Cerulean," the President says. "You still having those nightmares?"
"Yeah," Cerulean says. "They suck."
"Who'd you learn that word from?" C.J. says as she pulls the elastic out.
"Uncle Josh."
"Of course." C.J. starts combing through Cerulean's curls with her fingers. It's not going to be the neatest braid ever, but it should please Cerulean well enough.
"Cerulean, if you don't mind, why don't we talk about these nightmares?" the President says.
"Okay," Cerulean says. Bruno and Doug waltz into the room. They nod to the President as they head for the glasses on the counter.
"What happens in your nightmares?" the President asks.
"I die," Cerulean says simply. C.J. pauses with her fingers in brown curls as someone drops a glass in the sink. The President has frozen in his seat but soon he blinks and nods.
"Yes, yes, I can see why," he says finally. C.J. resumes braiding. "That must be very frightening."
"Yeah."
"What do you do when you wake up?"
"Cry. Scream. Look for Zach or Daddy," Cerulean says. The President nods.
"Hmm. What do you do to calm down?" he says. Cerulean shrugs.
"I don't know."
"Well, maybe you should think about doing something to calm down when you wake up. It's easier to go back to sleep that way," the President says. "When I have nightmares, I read a book. Do you have any books with you?"
"Yeah," Cerulean replies. "What books do you read, Mr. President?"
"All kinds of books, my dear. For instance, right now I'm reading this book about a certain boy wizard. You wouldn't happen to know that book, would you?" he says. Cerulean smiles.
"Is it Harry Potter?"
"It is Harry Potter! How did you know? Did someone tell you?" The President narrows his eyes in mock suspicion. Cerulean giggles and C.J. can feel some tension flow out of the little girl. C.J. grins slightly while the President and Cerulean start chatting about Harry Potter. Maybe, C.J. dared to think, things are going to get better.