Hey guys, Moon and I are trying to update a bit more regularly again, so hopefully we can finish this story before the end of the year. I hope you guys are enjoying and thank you all so much for the reviews, faves, follows and everything!
I sit next to Law quietly, holding his arm tightly. "I don't want to go." I whisper frowning as we listen on the stairs to the conversation happening down stairs.
Mama's voice is calm and steady. "Azalea doesn't need to go back with you, she's perfectly fine where she is."
Miss Eleanor, as we've taken to calling her, replies in a short and angry tone. "This isn't a matter if you want her to or not, the Young Master wants her."
"And I'm telling you I don't care what he wants. Azalea is my child, he can find some other little girl for his plans." Mother says shortly. "Eleanor, this isn't a debate. I'm telling you flat out, you may not take my children away from me. I'll fight to protect them no matter what you and your 'Young Master' throw at us."
"He gets what he wants, he doesn't need to be so cordial. He's being gracious and asking nicely because you had been at one time family."
"And I'm telling you no, don't ask me again Eleanor." Mama says in her final tone, argue with her some more and you will regret it.
I glance to my Nii-chan worriedly. "You heard Mama," Law says simply. "She's not going to let her take you away to this Young Master guy." He says confidently. "Come on, let's get up into bed before they find us here listening." Law mumbles pulling me to follow him to bed. In my room Bepo perks up as we both get settled into my bed.
A few moments later Mama has come in and sits on the bed. "You should both be asleep." She whispers in a very loving tone. "My little troublesome angels."
"We've been good." Law points out quietly. "We've been on our very best behavior since Miss Eleanor came."
"I know, you're both being so brave for me." Mama says while rubbing both our faces. "Just a bit longer and she'll go back home, I promise." She hums a song softly while petting our heads, the familiar tune and gentle strokes lull me to sleep.
…
Law sits anxiously outside of Mama's room, the town doctor has come to look at her, I'm sitting next to Bepo on the ground fidgeting. It's been a few days since she got sick, Law finally called a doctor, against Miss Eleanor's wishes, for her.
"Azalea," Miss Eleanor says coming out of Mama's room, her tone is harsh, Law gets up immediately and sits next to me. "Young ladies and gentlemen do not sit on the floor." She says giving both of stern looks, ones that say to get up off the ground.
"Good thing we're just kids." Law shoots back in his usual annoyed tone. "How is Mom?" Law asks ignoring Miss Eleanor as the doctor comes out. "Is she going to be okay?"
"She'll need rest," He says gravely, I turn my face to hide in Bepo's fur. "I'm going to have to run some tests. I'll know more once I get the results. Have you sent a transmission to your father?"
"He's on his way back." Law answers sighing heavily, his hand rubbing my back in calming circles. "Come on Azalea, we got to show Mister Doctor to the door." He says gently.
I grudgingly get up, climbing onto Bepo's back as he follows behind. I bow slightly from my perch on Bepo, then opting to lay flat on my stomach as the door closes behind the doctor. "Nii-chan I wanna go to bed." I murmur quietly.
"Come on, I'll get you tucked in." Law says softly.
We ignore Miss Eleanor as we head up the stairs and her ramblings about what ladies and gentlemen should be like and such. "I don't get how she can just go on about manners and junk when Mama is sick." I say pouting.
"I know, some people are just dumb." Law says simply as he opens the door to my room. "I'll bring up some dinner in a bit. We can get up early tomorrow and go look for Mom's favorite flowers." He says gently as I scoot off Bepo and into my bed, Bepo climbs up and rests at the end of my bed.
"Cap't will your dad make it back in time to fix your mom?" Bepo asks tentatively.
Law simply shrugs his shoulders, which doesn't make me feel any better at all. "We can only hope at this point." He mutters as he leaves the room.
Law has been really brave since Mama has gotten sick. He calmly called dad and explained her symptoms and then called the doctor repeating what he'd told dad and whatever he was supposed to relay. Nii-chan even handles Miss Eleanor so that she will leave me alone. He's very adult like.
"Bepo, what if Mama only gets worse?" I ask quietly, I'm terrified that our little family will only get broken up. "I want Mama to get better."
"I know," Bepo says consolingly. "Cap't and I will be here to keep you strong. He'll figure something out."
Bepo and I sit in bed quietly until Nii-chan returns with soup. "Will you stay in here tonight?" I ask quietly.
"Of course." Law says agreeingly. "Now eat up so you can get ready for bed." Law says as he sets the tray down next to me on the bed. I eat my soup quietly with Nii-chan both of us hoping Mama will be better soon. Bepo falls asleep quietly his breathing soothing me slightly. "Bepo looks up to you like Shachi, Penguin, and I do." I say quietly.
Law simply hums in response. "I'm just a kid."
"You're our Captain." I correct him gently. "Nii-chan I love you." I say as we place our bowls on the tray.
Law takes me to the bathroom to get ready for bed before he says anything back. "Azalea, I'll always love you."
I smile at my brother as I climb into bed. "I know Nii-chan, I'll love you forever!" I say as he takes the tray. I stay awake until Nii-chan gets in bed next to me. "You'll be here in the morning?" I question slightly worried.
"I will." Law promises, "Now get some rest." He mutters while patting the top of my head.
…
"Is this the flower?" Penguin asks as we search around the forest for mom's favorite flower.
I nod my head as he very carefully plucks the winter flower. "Nii-chan says Mama is getting worse." I mumble worriedly.
"Your dad will be home soon, he'll know what to do." Shachi says comfortingly as Bepo and Law return with several more flowers. "Cap't what else do we need?" He asks while handing me the flowers we've collected.
"We should get back, Azalea, you'll need to be calm to talk to Mom, I'll keep Miss Eleanor busy so you can be alone with her." Law promises as we head back.
The walk back I consider what I want to tell Mama most, and all I can think of is how much I love her and want for her to get better. I want Mama to be healthy again, I want to hear her laugh, see her smile, the way she grins when she talks about Dad, how she rolls her eyes at Law and I when we do something we shouldn't. I want things to be like before Miss Eleanor came.
I hate how she wants to teach me how to be a lady, I hate how mean she is to Nii-chan and Bepo, I hate how she talks about Dad in such a degrading tone, I don't like it at all how she tries to keep Law and I apart, I really hate that. I don't want to be away from Nii-chan. I don't want to be away from Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, Dad or Mama, I want us all to stay together.
...
I creep into Mama's room and grab her hand, she looks at me surprised, "What's my little blossom doing crying?" She asks in a raspy voice. "Now, don't cry so much." She says gently, her voice still scratchy and hoarse.
"Nii-chan and I are really worried about you." I say with my lip trembling. "We brought you some flowers, but Miss Eleanor tossed them in the trash." I say while wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my dress. "I don't like her at all Mama." I say trying to stay calm like Law said I needed to be.
"Shush," Mama says quietly. "It's alright, I know she's a bit of a sour treat, it'll be okay, Law says Dad is on his way back." She says smiling. "Eleanor will leave as soon as I'm better."
"I want you better now. I want you to dance and laugh with me again." I say quietly leaning into my mother's hand. "I love you." I mumble watching her smile at me simply.
"I love you too my little bloom," She says quietly. "You're so brave, I'm sure things will turn out alright." She says quietly. "You better run out before Eleanor finds out you've snuck in here." She says knowingly. "You and your brother are incredibly sweet, I'm sorry I'm worrying you both so much."
I smile at Mama as I sneak out of the room, running to Bepo I cry into his fur, extremely upset from the small amount of time I got to spend with her. She's been looking worse, Law's right, Mama is getting worse and I'm not sure how much worse she can get.
Law eventually comes and collects Bepo and I, taking us upstairs to the playroom. In there I curl up into Bepo with Law rubbing my back comfortingly. Law doesn't believe in lying to me about things, he rather not tell me a lie to get me through something. I'm extremely grateful that he is like that.
"How much longer until dad is back?" I ask quietly as the sun has already set.
Law lets out a long sigh. "Not for a few more days."
"Mama might not have a few more days." I say worriedly. I let out a long sigh and try to think positively. This awful feeling wells up inside of me as I sit quietly with my brother. It bubbles up, though I can't manage to cry anymore, I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of a lot of things recently.