Some like to sleep, We like to play

Two weeks later we are all moved in and Bandit has a small gash on her forehead. The first day we had been here we went over being safe and not running on the stairs but she ignored our instructions and one afternoon while rushing down the stairs she tripped four stairs from the bottom and fell down the rest. Luckily the stairs are carpeted so her fall was slightly cushioned but she banged her head on the post at the bottom. I'm not sure who cried more, her or me at the sight of my baby being hurt and bleeding. After that day Bandit has been very wary of the stairs and always takes her time until she reaches the bottom.
We thought about giving the kids their own room but decided they might be frightened being alone for the first time in a new place they are still not familiar with yet so the third bedroom remains unused for now. Sharing a room doesn't seem to bother them at all.

I wake up to crying coming from beside me and when I open my eyes Bandit is standing beside the bed crying her little eyes out. "B what's wrong?" I ask as I sit up and reach out for her. "I had accident mommy" she says and when I turn on the lamp beside the bed I see the wet patch on her pants. "Oh baby it's ok" I tell her and get out of bed taking her little hand in mine and leading her to the bathroom. "No mommy I's a big kid" she wails out and I kneel infront of her and pull her into my arms. "Baby it's fine. Accidents happen you're still a big girl" I tell her as she buries her face into my chest. When I stand up again I turn around and start running her a warm bath. "You want bubbles B?" I ask and she nods, rubbing at her eyes letting out a little hiccup. After I strip her down and put her in the bath handing her her rubber duck when Gerard comes into the room rubbing his eyes, his hair a mess from sleep. "What's going on beautiful ladies?" He croaks out in a sleep laced voice. "I had accident daddy. I's sowwy" Bandit sobs out starting to cry again. Gerard makes his way across the room and kneels next to the bathtub reaching out and wiping Bandits cheeks. "It's ok baby nothing to worry about" he tells her and she quietens down again sniffling a few times as Gerard picks up Riley's duck and they have a play with the ducks as I go out of the room to change the sheets on Bandits bed. After I'm done I check on Riley, pulling his blanket back up and picking his teddy off the floor and putting it back in bed with him before gently kissing his forehead and leaving the room again. I take Bandits sheets downstairs and put them in the washing machine before going back up and into the bathroom. "Ready to hop out B?" I ask and she nods reaching her little arms out to Gerard who is holding her towel waiting to pick her up. While she's getting dried I go into the kids room and get her some clean pyjamas and a pair of pull ups just incase and when I turn to leave the room Riley croaks out "Mommy." I turn back to him and he gets out of bed carrying his teddy and stumbles over to me. I pick him up and settle him on my hip as I walk back into the bathroom. When we are in the full light Riley buries his face in my neck to shield his eyes and Gerard takes him from me so I can dress Bandit. I kneel on the floor and when I hold out the pull ups instead of her underwear she pulls a face but rests her hands on my shoulders and steps into them. Once she's dressed I pick her up and we all leave the bathroom and go into our bedroom climbing into bed, Riley and Bandit settling in the middle and go back to sleep.
The next time I wake up Bandit is sprawled out on her back, her arms and legs spread as far as she can get them sniffling softly in her sleep and Riley is curled into my side playing with his teddy. Gerard is no where to be seen and I move my head and look at the clock. It's still too early for him to be at work and it's also a lot later than the kids would usually sleep so I roll over so I'm facing Riley and kiss his forehead. "Morning Ry" I say and he smiles at me before planting a sloppy kiss on my lips. We can hear Gerard moving around downstairs so we get up and hand in hand we make our way down there to see what he's doing. When we get to the kitchen he is making breakfast and Riley walks over to his highchair before holding his arms out waiting to go up into it. Once he's in he hands me his teddy and I take it back upstairs with me as I go to wake Bandit. When I touch her to wake her up she is burning hot and my face crumples in concern as her eyes flutter open and she lets out a nasty sounding cough. "I's sick mommy" she croaks out and I nod, picking her up and cuddling her to my chest. "It's ok baby we'll take you to the doctors and they'll make you better" I tell her as we go downstairs into the kitchen. "Gee, Bandits sick. I think she has the flu" I say as we enter the kitchen and Gerard spins around and walks over feeling Bandits forehead and cheeks and shaking his head. "My poor little girl" he murmurs as she holds her arms out to him wanting her daddy before taking her and sitting at the table with her in his lap.
After breakfast Gerard calls the comic store and talks to his boss asking if he could take the morning off and explaining about Bandit being sick and needing to go to the doctor. His boss is very understanding and tells him he can just take a paid sick day.
We take Riley to the doctors too and get him checked out just incase he is getting sick too but he appears to be fine. The doctor prescribes some child flu medicine and after getting the prescription filled we go home. "I don't want Riley to get sick too" I tell Gerard and he nods and says "We should separate them. The only option is for one of them to sleep with us though." I nod and decide that I would rather it be Riley as we would be useless to Bandit if we got sick too.

Four days later Bandit is healthy again and back to causing chaos and destruction where ever she goes. Trick and William offer to take Bandit and Riley for the night to give us a break and when I ask if they'd like that they jump around and cheer loudly. Once they leave I tidy up the house and wait for Gerard to come home. The moment he walks in the door I pounce on him wrapping my legs around his waist as he grabs me and sealing my lips to his. "We are all alone until tomorrow" I moan into his ear and he tightens his grip on my hips, practically running towards the stairs.

Notes