(no subject)
"There's a good boy," Jeannie murmurs as Bradley's nursing trails off. She shifts him gently for burping. He's half-asleep and if she's careful, he'll go down for his nap in just… a minute…
…unless the commotion Madison's making in her room doesn't stop pretty damn soon. Honestly, she loves their house, but the walls are made of paper. There's a bang -- the lid of the wooden toy chest dropping into place -- a scuffling noise, the closet door opening, and finally a high-pitched cry. "Mommy! MOMMY!"
Rescue is at hand, though: she can hear John climbing the stairs. He's coming back from the kitchen with an icepack for Mer, who's down with a migraine (a sucky way to spend his visit) but he pauses at Madison's room. "Hey Mads. What do you need, sweetie? Your mom's feeding the baby."
"I can't reach Peanut Butter!" Madison exclaims.
A short pause. "Peanut butter in your room? That's in the kitchen, don't you think? Want me to make you a sandwich?"
"Not peanut butter. Peanut Butter BEAR. He's on the top shelf."
"Okay, I see him."
"He's my most favorite bear. I always have him when I'm sick. Mommy kisses him and then he kisses me. And then I kiss him and he kisses her."
"Well, he sounds pretty special. Here you go."
Jeannie laughs to herself. The bear-kissing routine had been Madison's idea after her preschool class discussed colds and germs and washing your hands.
"Not for me, Uncle John! Give him to Uncle Mer!"
"Aren't you going to kiss him first?"
"No, YOU kiss him. 'Cause Uncle Mer has a headache and you love him. Don't you, Uncle John?"
Jeannie pulls in a breath. She's been waiting forever for John and her idiot brother to realize how they feel about each other, but Madison's confident assertion still takes her by surprise.
There's a long moment of silence.
"Yeah, honey, I do," John says softly. "Thanks for sharing your bear."
Jeannie catches a glimpse of John as he heads down the hall with Mer's icepack in one hand and Peanut Butter Bear in the crook of his arm. She thinks she's never seen him so happy.
end
(ETA: Sorry, I just saw the rule about no first-time kisses... oh noes! How about a remix?)