regency au } { of feverish babies and kitchen thieves

[hereditare]

Laura: [wakes up automatically at the sound, glancing over to the bassinet that's sitting on her side of the bed and slowly starting to get up, trying not to disturb her husband as she does]

Parrish: [groans, rolling a bit closer to her as she's shifting] She has good lungs at least.

Laura: [she laughs softly as she scoops Amelia up, pulling her into her arms gently and rocking her to try and calm her] What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you lonely? [it doesn't seem to appease her any, and the obvious reasons aren't checking out]

Parrish: [pushes up on his arms a bit] Perhaps she just wants to sleep with us and not be so far away?

Laura: Maybe, but it's safer for her over there. [just in case they shift in their sleep. she continues rocking her gently as she goes to climb back into bed, sitting up against the headboard]

Parrish: Maybe it's safer, but it's not as nice. [shifts over to rest next to her]

Laura: [the outright screams quiet to fussy sobs, big eyes looking up at both of them in something that's almost accusatory. Not that her parents did anything wrong, she's just in a bad mood. Laura frowns and places on hand against her forehead gently] She feels a bit warm though.

Parrish: [he reached over and pressed a hand to his daughter's cheek] Should I call for Melissa?

Laura: [she shakes her head] If I can get her back to sleep, I'll have Deaton examine her in the morning. She doesn't seem to have any other symptoms.

Parrish: [thinks, and then goes to stand] Give me a moment. I have an idea. [and he's going to slide out of bed and pull his pants on]

Laura: [she nods, just continues rocking her daughter in her arms to try and calm her down]

Parrish: [he went down into the laundry to get a pillow case, and then out into the snowy garden. we went and gathered up frozen leaves and herbs like lavender and mint. He went back upstairs and sat on the bed next to Laura, putting the case on his lap] Here, give her to me.

Laura: [does as he asks. she can smell the herbs in the pillow case but isn't sure what he's doing]

Parrish: [he gently rests her daughter on top of the soft case, one arm under her head and the other curling around her side to keep her still] When I was younger, I remember that when there were night I felt I was burning myself inside out, I would go to sleep out in the forest. The coolness from the ground help regulate my temperature during the winters.

Laura: [watches as Amelia continues to shift a bit on the pillow case, but eventually the coolness of the leaves and herbs sneaks through and she starts to calm a bit]

Parrish: [smiles down at her, his thumb rubbing her shoulder] There we go... is that helping my little angel?

Laura: [there's still a few fussy noises, but she instinctively shifts her body towards the press of her father's fingers, wanting the contact even when she's feeling miserable]

Parrish: [he leans down to kiss her forehead] God, Laura, I hope she is not inheriting what I am.

Laura: I don't think so. I think she just has a cold. My sister used to get fevers like this when she was a baby.

Parrish: I hope so. [he looked over at his wife] She will be okay though. We just need to keep her cool, right?

Laura: [she nods] I will have Deaton look at her in the morning. I remember there being an herbal remedy he used to give Cora to help protect her. I'm sure he can do the same for Amelia.

Parrish: That would be good. We can't have our little angel being uncomfortable. [daddy is such a worrywart]

Laura: [Yes, but it makes his wife smile as she shifts forward to rest her chin against his shoulder] No, we can't.

Parrish: And we also can't have an infant sleeping in the woods. I think we would have a lot of people raising questions at our ability to parent at that point.

Laura: Mmmm, no. That wouldn't be good at all.

Parrish: [looks over at Laura and smiles] I put in some herbs to help lull her back to sleep too.

Laura: [glances down again and watches as Amelia struggles to keep her eyes open] That seems to be working too.

Parrish: I think I'm picking up this whole father thing.

Laura: [she nods] I think you're doing very well.

Parrish: Thank you.

Laura: [shifts so that her head is resting against his shoulder, one hand reaching out to play with Amelia's fingers] She's not in any pain. That's another good sign.

Parrish: Why do they call it a cold if it makes you so hot?

Laura: [she laughs] I don't know. Perhaps because humans get them when it's cold?

Parrish: Maybe. [gently rocking Amelia to get her the rest of the way to sleep] Perhaps she will feel better sleeping with us tonight. Just because she feels unwell.

Laura: [she nods slowly] Just tonight. We don't want to spoil her.

Parrish: Just tonight. [you're not just spoiling the baby. totally spoiling the husband]

Laura: [oh, she's aware she's going to have to be the bad guy in a lot of this. But she knew that the first moment she saw them together. she pulls back after a moment to go to settle back down again, leaving space for Parrish to place Amelia down between them]

Parrish: [which he will do, shifting the pillow case, his pillow, and the blankets to create a tiny nest for the baby to sleep in]

Laura: [and after that the covers come up again and she starts to close her eyes] Good night.

Parrish: [leans over to kiss his wife] Goodnight.

Laura: [kisses him back with a small smile, before closing her eyes and drifting back off to sleep again]

Parrish: [and he'll stay awake a bit, watching his girls drift off before sleep comes for him too]

Laura: [and in the morning, Laura will take Amelia to see Deaton and make sure it's not anything worse than just a little fever]

Parrish: [and sleepy father will end up sleeping in because hey, no manor responsibilities this early in the morning]

Laura: [and unless you want to be Deaton, Deaton will confirm what Laura suspected and give her a salve to put on Amelia's chest that will help keep the fever down and they will return to their chambers to do just that and get ready for the day]

Parrish: [nope, lazy husband is lazy]

Laura: [that's alright husband, Laura is just going to put Amelia down on the bed next to you on her stomach, where she can see that dad is in reach and stick her little arm out to ... repeatedly smack him in the forehead with a giggle]

Parrish: [he's going to figure out what's going on and will smile, not opening his eyes right away] And this is what I get for caring for you last night?

Laura: She does it out of love. Coordination isn't her strong suit quite yet.

Parrish: I know.

Amelia: [just baby grins up at him because hi dad. look at me, I'm cute.]

Parrish: [and he opens his eyes and smiles] Someone is feeling better.

Laura: Deaton gave her something for the fever. It seems to have worked wonders.

Parrish: Good. [and he's going to roll onto his back, picking Amelia up and holding her in the air above him] Because I like it when you're smiling a lot better.

Amelia: [there's lots of pleased, happy baby noises as she kicks her arms and legs in the air above him]

Parrish: [just smiles and laughs at her] You are adorable, yes you are.

Amelia: [is mostly just like wheeeeeeee I'm flying wait where's the ground wheeeeeee more flying]

Parrish: [and eventually his arms will lower her to his chest and snuggle time] I'm a very, very lucky man.

Laura: We're all lucky.

Parrish: Yup. This is why daddy doesn't always listen to mommy. Because sometimes Daddy's crazy antics work.

Laura: [and there's a dubious look at that] And what crazy antics are you referring to this time?

Parrish: Leaving the flowers on the balcony.

Laura: [and that makes her smile soften a bit] I'm sure it didn't work as quickly as you would have hoped.

Parrish: Of course, but I also had a lot going against me too. And you, my love, are very stubborn.

Laura: A Hale family trait.

Parrish: As I learned later.

Laura: Your daughter will probably have it too.

Parrish: Yes, I'm aware. But I can hope.

Laura: She will need it. If she is going to be the next Hale alpha, then she will need every bit of strength she can muster.

Parrish: Stubborness and strength are not the same thing.

Laura: In this world, for a woman, they can be. She needs to have the force of will to stand her ground, no matter what comes her way.

Parrish: [he just looks down at Amelia, his hand idly stroking her back] I wish I could give you a better world then.

Laura: Maybe one day she will have one.

Parrish: Or at least a love that will remind her that she doesn't have to be stubborn and serious all the time. [so smiling up at his wife]

Laura: [she smiles softly] That will be easily achieved. And hopefully she will not have to become alpha as young as I did.

Parrish: Well, she won't have to worry about me marrying her off to some idiot with a horse who thinks he's better than the rest of the world.

Laura: That much is certain.

Parrish: And your daddy was a much better man anyway. [talking to Amelia now]

Laura: [she laughs before shifting to settle closer to them] That much is very true.

Parrish: [turns his head to kiss his wife] And he's a man who loves both his girls with all his heart.

Laura: [kisses him back before she nods] His wife feels the same way.

Parrish: Good. Cause I'd be worried if she didn't. [grins]

Laura: [she laughs] Don't worry. She is beyond saving at this point.

Parrish: I'm not going to complain. [and he will kiss Laura again. Baby on his chest? what baby?]

Amelia: [this baby! The one that is going to reach up and pull on her mother's hair hard because she's close enough and why not]

Laura: [pulls back because] Ow. Ow, Amelia ...

Parrish: [stop kissing, laughing] Amelia...

Laura: [and Laura will proceed to very gently pry her hair out of the baby's hands] She has a good grip too.

Parrish: Which will only improve when she gets her mother's legacy.

Laura: Yes it will.

Parrish: [takes the baby's hand and kisses it] Then we will all fear.

Laura: [brushes a hand over the top of her daughter's head] She will learn to control it, like we all did.

Parrish: I believe that will not be something I will really be much help with.

Laura: We will see when the time comes.

Parrish: I'll probably be the one taking care of the rest of our children.

Laura: And what makes you say that?

Parrish: Pretty sure I don't have to skill set to help teach a werewolf how to control her powers.

Laura: No, but there are also several other werewolves who can help me.

Parrish: Right. And I can just distract the other children so that they aren't worried about their older sister.

Laura: What would they have to be worried about? [maybe it's because she was raised with it, but it's not something that needs to be distracted from]

Parrish: I mean, if you're saying she needs to learn control, I'm assuming there are times that she won't. So it would be better to keep her from her siblings during times were she wasn't in control to keep from hurting them? On full moons, I used to have to tie Liam to a tree to keep him from hurting people because I didn't know any other way to help him... I've seen how out of control a wolf can be.

Laura: Oh. [that makes sense] Not all of her training will be on full moons. When it comes time for that, there is a special room in the manor where we will restrain her until she learns control - and since it is at night, it is likely that the other children will sleep through it.

Parrish: [just nods, stroking Amelia's cheek a bit] I still don't think I will be of much help though.

Laura: [leans in to rest her chin on his shoulder] You help her by supporting her. By holding her when she gets frustrated and reminding her that you love her, even when she has moments where she hates that part of herself.

Parrish: That I can do.

Laura: Good.

Parrish: And I can also be there for her mother to remind her that everything takes time, and she's not failing her daughter if it takes longer than she think it should.

Laura: I'm sure she will appreciate that.

Parrish: And it may have to be done with a lot of physical comfort.

Laura: Is that so?

Parrish: Oh yes. I've come to learn that wolves really do find comfort in gentle touches and caresses. [and he's going to reach up and stroke Laura's cheek]

Laura: [she tips her head towards that hand as she watches him] We are very affectionate creatures.

Parrish: A trait I find very endearing.

Laura: I'm glad you think so.

Parrish: [and he's going to lean over and kiss again, but angling to keep Amelia from grabbing mommy's hair this time]

Laura: [kisses him back with a soft sigh as Amelia just cuddles into her father's chest]

Parrish: [and nope, he's going to just enjoy the family cuddles and kissing until someone dares disturb them]

Laura: [which they shouldn't for fear of Laura's wrath]

Parrish: [and he's just really waiting for the day Laura is back to feeling real snuggly and ready to start practicing to make baby #2]

Laura: [Unfortunately for you that probably won't happen until Amelia is a bit older]

Parrish: [just whimpers because he misses rolling around in the bed with his wife]

Laura: [she knows. She misses it too. But they don't need two babies that are practically the same age right now]

Parrish: [the time period where safe sex is no sex. pouting Parrish is mentally pouting]

Laura: [yep. Sorry Parrish.]

Laura: [however, depending how well he tried to seduce her, her willpower might not hold up to that resolve]

Parrish: [he will have to roll on that one day. but not while I'm at work]

Laura: [nope, for now they're just sticking to PG snuggles with Amelia]

Parrish: [best day still]

Laura: [Yep, it is a very good day.]

Liam: [but eventually something is going to happen to disturb it. In this case, it will be Liam bursting in and diving directly under the bed.] I'm not here.

Laura: [sits up a bit, squinting at the invading wolf] And why are you not here?

Liam: Shhh.

Cook: [in the hallway] Where are you hiding, you little thief?

Parrish: [facepalming]

Laura: [sighs as she tips her head back] He's in here!

Liam: [popping out from under the bed] YOU TOLD HER?!

Cook: [storms in, holding a spoon. She has flour on her face] You little devil, now I have you.

Laura: [glances up at the cook] Aside from the obvious, what did he do?

Cook: I was making cakes for Lady Elena and her ladies and this one came in and stole the one for Lady Caroline! Now I am a cake short for their afternoon tea!

Laura: [sighs, before glaring down at Liam like "really?"]

Cook: And then when I caught the little thief red handed, he jumped on the flour bags, breaking one everywhere and now the maids will be spending half the night on their knees to clean up the mess to keep the ants out of the kitchen.

Laura: [yeah, the glare just intensifies] No, they won't. He will.

Liam: [whimpers] but that part was an accident! I didn't know the bag was going to break all over the stupid floor.

Laura: [yeah, nope, Laura's not buying it] You will clean up every grain until it is clean to the cook's satisfaction and you will apologize to Lady Elena and Lady Caroline for ruining their tea.

Liam: [looks at Parrish]

Parrish: No, I'm in agreement with Laura. In fact, I think you also need to apologize to all of the kitchen staff as well.

Liam: [growls and gets out from hiding] You used to be on my side.

Laura: [doesn't respond to that, before looking up at the cook again] I'm very sorry.

Cook: [grabs Liam by the ear] Let's go, little lordling.

Liam: Ow, owowowow I have to hear out of that thing. [as he's dragged from the room]

Laura: [sighs and waits until he's out of hearing range before looking back to Parrish] Thank you.

Parrish: For?

Laura: Supporting my decision. [because she knows that Liam was looking to Parrish to undermine her.]

Parrish: [chuckles] Well, beyond the fact you're his alpha now... he was wrong. Why wouldn't I?

Laura: Because he was expecting you to.


Parrish: [chuckles] Maybe I'm better at this parenting stuff that I believed I would be.

Laura: Maybe. [she says as she leans in to kiss him again]

Parrish: [and they can go back to this while I go head home!]

Laura: [woot!]