The idea of little Sam wanting no one but Madeleine popped into my head and this was the result.
Enjoy~
"Mad! Mommy! Mad!" The redheaded toddler shouted. Folding her little chubby arms against her chest, she gave her mother the best glare that the two-year-old could manage. Tears welled up in the girl's blue eyes.
"Sam, baby. Why are you mad?"
"Mad!"
"I see that you're upset. But you need to tell me why." Standing at her full height, Scarlet pinched the bridge of her nose. Remembering a breathing technique Florence had taught her, the brunette took four deep breaths.
Little Sam had been acting up for days now. It started out easy enough to handle. Just some hugs and attention, a snack here and there, was enough to appease the child. As the days progressed, though, her temperament only got worse.
Today was by far the worst. From the moment Sam opened her eyes she chose to be nothing but difficult. Her breakfast ended up on the floor of the kitchen. Not only once, but twice. Any attempts to cuddle Sam ended up with her small hands pushing away. Even her beloved stuffed rabbit did nothing to soothe the child.
Scarlet vaguely remembered Madeleine's words on the 'terrible two's stage. She'd even recommended a book that would give her tips and tricks on surviving it. Scarlet brushed the other woman off. Telling her that she was sure that she could handle the stage. After all, Sam had been the perfect baby.
But, damn, was she wrong.
Now, (staring helplessly at the snotty, crying mess that was her toddler) Scarlet really wished she would have listened to Madeleine's advice. Or even to be able to ask Madeleine herself (seeing how she'd read every book on childcare in the library). However, Madeleine was still out at the book fair.
Of course, the 'book fair' in question wasn't the typical one that came to mind. Instead, it was a code word for an arms deal. This one, being with the heads of Los Segadores. They'd even paid to fly the Librarian three states over for their meeting. From what Florence was told, the negotiations were taking much longer than usual due to some uncertainty on just how many 'books' the bosses wanted.
"You good?" A voice called out pulling Scarlet from her thoughts. Anna May's head peeked around the doorway a moment later.
With a glance at the crying child, Scarlet walked over to her newly decided girlfriend. "Peachy."
"Could 'a fooled me. You look like you're ready to rip your hair out."
"Sam's just a little upset is all."
"A little?" Anna May raised an eyebrow. Coming to stand behind the taller woman, she wrapped her hands around her waist, pulling her close. Slowly, she rocked them from side to side. "I've heard her screaming for the past two hours."
"Has it been that long?" Scarlet groaned, letting her head fall back against Anna May's shoulder.
"It has."
"I don't understand." Scarlet sighed. "She just keeps yelling that she's mad. I've tried playing with her, holding her, giving her snacks. But nothing's worked! All she does is cry harder!"
Anna May stopped her swaying. "Want me to give it a try?"
With a gesture to the room, Scarlet spoke. "Have at it."
"Sam?" Anna May said softly as she approached the bed. "Hey, kiddo, do you want to watch a movie with me? We can watch your favorite?"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Mad!"
"But why are you mad?"
"MAD!"
Anna May held her hands up in surrender. Slowly, she backed out of the room. Once out of the child's sight, she turned to Scarlet. "Alright, I tried."
"Why is your kid still screaming?" Florence questioned evenly as she entered the room.
The two women shared a defeated look. "We don't know."
"Did you ask her?"
"Of course, we did."
"And?"
"She just keeps saying she's mad." Florence looked from Scarlet to Anna May. Without saying another word, she entered the little girl's room.
"Samantha." Florence called out. Lifting her head up out of her pillow, Sam stared at the woman. Florence squatted down, coming close to eye level with the crying child. "What's wrong?"
"Mad."
"Mad?"
Sam sniffled, wiping her nose along her arm. With a tiny nod, she spoke again. "Mad."
Patting her once on the head, Florence stood. "Okay."
"Where are you going?" Scarlet asked as the green clad woman walked past her. Florence paid no mind to the question. Getting no response, Scarlet turned to Anna May. "Where is she going?"
"Like I have any idea?" The blue clad woman snarked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow. Sure, she may have lived with Florence longer, but that didn't mean she understood a single thing that went on in either of her fellow librarians' heads.
The two women continued to hover by Sam's room, neither quite knowing what they could do to calm the child.
The soft creek of the door opening caught their attention. Florence returned. This time with Madeleine in toe. Scarlet wanted to make a joke about the brunette's disheveled appearance. The dark curls that were normally pinned into a nice bun, hung loosely around her shoulder. Her normal attire was replaced by an oversized white T-shirt and short pink shorts.
"Sam? Sweetheart?" Madeleine made her way over to the child's bed. Kneeling beside it, she reached out and brushed a stray red curl away from the girl's red face. Instantly, the toddler threw herself into Madeleine's waiting arms. Sam settled as Madeleine traced a heart shape into the girl's back. "What's wrong, Darling?"
Sam mumbled something unintelligible into the white shirt. Madeleine chuckled, pulling back her back slightly. Wiping away the girl's tears, the brunette gave her a tired, gentle, smile. "You know... I brought back some new books. Why don't we go read one? Hmm?"
Sam nodded, not releasing her iron grip on Madeleine's nightshirt. All three women stared as Madeleine passed by them. Florence's eyes were filled with a familiar fondness. One that was strictly reserved for her girlfriend. On the contrary, both Anna May and Scarlet stared with disbelief at how easily Madeleine's presence settled the child.
"What just happened?"
"She wasn't feeling 'mad'. The kid wanted Madeleine." Florence said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.