Prompt 18- Camera

A/N: Dulcie is the name I came up with for SpongeBob's grandma.

...

In her many, many years as a mother of six, Dulcie SquarePants learned that it was a good idea to have a camera handy somewhere- in case she missed something special to remember.

So when Harold SquarePants, one of her sons, and his wife, Margaret SquarePants (nee BubbleBottom) produced an adorable grandson for her, she was thrilled. Her son, Sherm, also had a son- Stanley SquarePants. She was fond of Stanley, but the poor boy was horrifically jinxed- though she kept her patience with him.

But it was SpongeBob who became the apple of her eye when it came to her grandchildren. And he was a wonderful child- always smiling and happy, and radiating love, innocence and happiness. When he was six, he received a pet snail, Gary, whom the boy loved dearly.

...

Shortly after Gary's adoption into the family, Harold and Margaret were invited to a family friend's wedding- but SpongeBob was sick and couldn't come with them. They couldn't cancel it either, as it was one of their best friends, and they had no intention of letting her down.

So they turned to Harold's mom for a babysitter.

"We're terribly sorry, Dulcie," Said Margaret apologetically, rocking her still feverish son in her arms as Harold pulled in a suitcase for SpongeBob's things, as well as Gary's pet carrier. "I know it's last minute, and SpongeBob's ill, but I"-

"Don't you worry about a thing, dear," Dulcie said comfortingly. "I'll be fine. I'll call if there's any trouble- but I don't think that will happen." She assured them.

"We really do appreciate the help, Mom," Harold added gratefully, placing the pet carrier down beside the fire before releasing Gary, who meowed frantically for his young master.

"Well, we'd best be going," Fussed Margaret.

"Mommy...?" SpongeBob asked weakly from his mother's arms. "Why are you leaving me?"

"Sweetie, we're not leaving you- we'll just be gone for a few days because Auntie Monday's getting married, remember? You're staying here to rest up."

"Okay..."

Margaret kissed her son's fevered brow before gently passing him to her mother in law, who cradled him gently. "Dulcie, you are a lifesaver." She said gratefully.

"Oh, Margaret, it's no trouble, honestly- I love looking after SpongeBob," Dulcie assured her. "Now, you two stay safe, and enjoy yourselves. I'll see you both in a few days,"

"Thanks, Mom," Replied Harold. "Now, son, we want you to take it easy, okay? We want you to get well again, and Grandma will ensure that. Love you, kiddo,"

"Love you dad. I love you mom." SpongeBob whispered.

"We love you, sweetheart. We'll see you in a few days." And with that, they left.

...

Dulcie placed her coughing and wheezing grandson on the sofa, and felt his brow- still feverish. "Grandma will make you some soup to help your throat." She told him kindly, but he shook his head.

"I...I...can't eat...keep...being sick." He rasped, coughing.

Dulcie frowned, but decided not to push it- she didn't want to make him worse, but she also wanted to ensure he didn't go hungry. Patting his back, she came up with a compromise.

"I'll tell you what, SpongeBob- I'll make that soup now, and I'll reheat it for you once you feel better-deal?" She asked, to which SpongeBob nodded weakly, wiping his watery eyes with his arm before lying back on the sofa.

"Meow," Gary slithered up the sofa and snuggled up to his sick young owner, and began purring consolingly. SpongeBob tried to lift a hand to pet his snail- but it just flopped down beside him uselessly.

Dulcie went through to make coral and buttered kelp soup- a family concoction perfect for sick days.

...

When she finished, she returned to the living room to check on SpongeBob- and found him fast asleep, his mouth hanging open and looking peaceful and innocent in his sleep. Gary was asleep beside him, curled protectively into the young poriferan's side. Despite the situation, she couldn't help but smile. She took the opportunity to flick through her photos on her camera and sort them out. A lot of them were photos of SpongeBob and her sons- as well as of Stanley and her other grandchildren.

Seeing something move from the corner of her eye, she looked up- to see Gary now on his owner's chest, and SpongeBob's pale arms snaking round his snail in a clumsy, sleepy hug.

Unable to resist, she took a photo of the pair, and watched as it flashed onto her screen. The pair looked both extremely vulnerable and very protective of each other at the same time- even in sleep.

She put her camera aside before pulling out a blanket for them and throwing it over her grandson.

"Sleep tight, SpongeBob." She kissed his forehead and petted Gary's shell tenderly, before she headed over to the kitchen and tidied her famous cookies into a tin for later- it was clear SpongeBob couldn't enjoy them at the moment.

Though Stanley might appreciate some...she was expecting him to be here the next day, as her son Sherm had an operation to attend, and his wife was working.