#day26

At her silence, his concern only grows, “What’s wrong? Where’s Jane? Do I have to beat someone up–”

“What no!” she exclaimed. 

“Then spit it out,” he replied. 

Mumbling softly she spoke barely above a whisper, “We’ve got a code red”

“Sorry I didn’t hear that,” Jason said once more. 

Ellie huffs, frustrated and embarrassed all at once. “I said, Jane got her period”

This was not how either of them imagined this moment to go. Sure Ellie and Jane were well aware of periods, both of their parents were doctors of course they knew. 

That wasn’t the surprise here. The surprise was getting it out in public, on a day out with their cousins, Jay and Dami.

…not even Steph, Cass or Babs were here. 

Jason blinks. 

Once. 

Twice. 

Taking in the information. “Oh, is that all?” 

“Is that–Is that all??–ughhh, I wish Mom or Dad were here,” she screws her eyes shut.

Jason snaps back into focus, hands settling on her shoulder, “Don’t worry. It’s perfectly fine, we can handle this” 

“How?”

Unfortunately neither of the girls had the foresight to bring pads. Because neither of them imagined this happening here. Today. In the midst of a museum. 

How. 

That was the million dollar question. Jason could think of a thousand ways to take down a crook in a second. To pick locks. To formulate plans. 

And yet when his cousin asked him what to do about her sister getting her period. 

He was stumped. 

“Ah, there you are,” Damian came up to them, “There is a particularly interesting artifact that I think you’ll enjoy Ellie–Where’s Jane?” 

His brow arched, glancing between the both of them. 

Jason leans over, “We’ve got a bit of a situation”

“Who do we need to beat up?” Damian asks out of instinct. 

Ellie buries her head in her hands. Groaning as she waves at Jason to explain. 

Jason shakes his head at Damian’s question. 

“Nothing like that”

“Then what is it Todd?” he pushes once more. 

“Jane got her period”

“Oh”

“Not you too,” Ellie let out a muffled complaint. 

“We’ll just go stop at the grocery store and get her pads, simple.” Damian explained, whilst Jason nodded. 

Ellie lifted her head from her hands, “It’s not that simple”

“Why not?” They looked at her once more. 

Leaning in she added, “Cause, there was a bit of a staining issue”

Jason clicked his tongue, in complete understanding. 

He shrugs off his jacket, passing it to Ellie. “Tell Jane to wear this, should be long enough to cover any stains. We’ll hit the road and get this sorted, no reason to worry,” looking her in the eyes, trying to instill a sense of calm. 

She breathes in deeply, lips curled tightly, as she takes the jacket. A firm nod before she turns and disappears into the bathrooms once more. 

Only to reappear with Jane, Jason’s jacket slipped on far too big on her stature, and yet doing its job perfectly. With the sleeves pulled up, the edge of the jacket reached mid thigh. 

Jane’s mouth curled into a frown, discomfort wracking her body, while Ellie walked beside her. 

“C’mon, let’s get going,” Jason tilts his head, shoving a hand into his pocket. Whilst his other hand patted Jane’s shoulder. “It’s all going to be fine” 

They nodded as they left the exhibits. 

Leading to them stopping by the supermarket. 

Damian and Ellie wander the aisles, as she goes and grabs at all her sister’s favourite snacks – perhaps even smuggling a few of her own preferences. 

Meanwhile Damian was standing before a wall of various period products. Eyes analytical. Assessing. An expression of complete and utter seriousness adorning his features. 

No sense of embarrassment. Not meak. 

Standing tall as he looks over each one. Trying to determine the perfect choice. 

His hand slips into his pocket, before reluctantly dialling in for help, for backup. 

Unfortunately it was his second choice that answered. 

Not his first. 

“Brown” 

“Dami, hey. How’s the day out with Bubble and Trouble?” Steph asked, the little nickname for the two girls having stuck since they were young. 

“Fine–ok.” His brows knit as the words upon each package overlap and only cause confusion.

“Ok? Then what’s wrong?” she asks once more. 

His mouth curls into a frown, “What would you suggest is the best sanitary product for a teenage girl?”

Steph almost hacked up a lung from the question. 

“Brown this is serious”

“No, no, of course. Uh, well what do they have?”

“That’s the problem, they have everything. How do you even choose?”

She stifles a laugh, “I wish I was there,” she murmurs before continuing, “There should be ones that specify that it's for teens,” she walks him through what would be appropriate. 

“Oh and make sure you pick up plenty of chocolate and ice cream, make sure she’s comfortable–”

He nods, even if she couldn’t see it, “Don’t worry, I have Ellie picking out snacks”

“Perfect”

He leaves the aisle, before locating Ellie, as they leave the store. 

Once home, Damian and Ellie sat at the couch, eating ice cream straight from the container. 

Unfortunately as soon as they get back to the house. 

Jane was not as cool and collected as she was before. Changed into a pair of sweats, a need for comfort as her body fought to make her feel uncomfortable. 

Fretting over her pants, the ones she was wearing when this all had occurred. They were her favourite pair. 

Now stained. 

Ruined. 

As she sulked over them. Sat on her bedroom floor. On the brink of tears. As the emotions of the day overwhelm her. 

Jason had knocked on the door, concern etched across his features, “Knock, knock. You decent?” 

He waited for her response. Not pushy. 

Just wanting her to know he was there for her. 

“Yeah,” she said quietly. 

He opened the door to find her, a look of sadness on her face. 

“Hey are you feeling alright?” 

“Wha- yeah I’m fine. Just. Did it really have to happen today? I got my pants all ruined, now I won’t be able to get the blood out” 

Jason offers a hand, with a raised brow, “Can I have a look?”

“Really?” she asks. 

“It’s just a bit of blood, nothing I haven’t seen before,” he waves off any hesitance. 

She hands it over, as he glances at it. 

Clicking his tongue, “This is nothing, we can get this out easy, as if nothing ever happened”

“How?” 

“First we’ll need some cold water,” Jason states with a curt nod. “I’ll show you how to get it out, so you know how to do it for next time”

Rummaging through the cupboard Jason manages to find some hydrogen peroxide, just like he knew there would be. 

Old habits die hard – you were the one who had taught him how to get blood stains out of clothes. 

It felt only fitting he use your tricks to teach your daughter the same. 

Even if the circumstances were entirely different. 

“First we’ll use a little bit of this, let it settle into the fabric, doing a little test to make sure it doesn’t damage the colour” 

“And how do you test that?”

“Using a little cotton swab with the peroxide and rubbing it against the fabric, if it lifts any of the dye then we’ll have to use a different tactic”

Step by step, Jason walks Jane through his actions. 

“Gently scrub with a toothbrush, rinse it out, then we simply put in the wash, and it should come out, good as new”

Just as the washing machine starts churning, before ushering her away, “Now go have some chocolate or ice cream, before Dami and Ellie finish it all”

She grins at him, hugging him before slipping away. 

And perhaps once the load is over. 

Not a single sign of blood etched into the seams. 

“Wow, how’d you know this would work?” Jane says as she inspects her pants, Ellie peering over her shoulder, impressed. 

“Uh–” Jason panics for a moment. The fact that their family were a bunch of vigilantes, hadn’t exactly been brought up just yet. 

And he wasn’t about to be the one to say it. 

Jason’s eyes flicker between Jane and Ellie peering at him in curiosity, before glancing over to Damian. 

Who hastily signals him to shut up. From behind them, a hand doing a cutting motion in front of his neck. 

“I read a lot…” Jason answers. 

“Didn’t realise they had laundering advice in Jane Austen?” Ellie teased. 

“Maybe you just haven’t gotten to that chapter yet,” he retorted. Knowing full well it was bullshit. 

The girls laugh at him, whilst Damian pinches his nose. 

“So I figure it’s your choice of movie tonight,” Jason looks at Jane. 

Who smiles widely, glancing at her sister as they nod in silent agreement. A twinkle in their eyes. 

The stress of the day, now long forgotten, as they stay up watching their movies. Jane and Ellie falling asleep slumped against the couch, their cat Snickers curled up on Jane’s lap. 

Damian’s eyes having drifted shut, asleep on a loveseat, as their dog, Bailey settles by his feet. 

The house was calm. 

Peaceful. 

One movie had turned into three, before the night sky blanketed the city. 

Its peace disturbed ever so slightly with the faint rustling of keys, your hushed murmurs and little laughs reach Jason’s ears. 

He glances at everyone once more before walking over to meet you and Michael as you enter. 

He holds up a finger to his mouth, “Shh, all the kids are sleeping”

You arch a brow, “You know that Damian’s an adult right–he’s literally in med school right now”

“He’s still Demon Spawn to me,” he quips, as you wrap your arms around him in a hug, he whispers looking between you and Michael who nodded in greeting, “Did you guys have a good day?” 

You smile, hand grasping Michael’s once more, leaning into him. 

“It was perfect, thanks for looking after the girls today”

Jason shrugged, “No stress, you know we always love hanging out with them. Dami’s got a real soft spot for them”

You snicker, “We all know that you do too” 

“Anything interesting happen today?” Michael asked. 

“Well, I don’t know if Jane would want me to tell you, but we had a bit of an incident.” 

“An incident?” you asked, brows furrowing in concern. 

Jason waves his hand, "Everything's fine, everyone’s fine. It’s just that Jane,” he sighs trying to think of the words, before biting the bullet, “Jane got her period”

Your eyes widen, “You should’ve called” 

“It’s all fine, we had it handled. Besides Damian had Steph on speed dial, and picked up everything Jane would need”

“How’d she take it?” Michael questioned, a little worried over his daughter. Feeling bad he wasn’t there for her. 

“Like a champ, Jane’s fine. Both her and Ellie said you already spoke about it, so they weren’t panicked. If anything Jane was more worried over the stain on her pants than getting her period” 

You sigh in relief, “Thanks Jay, I’m glad you were here for them”

“Just glad I could help,” he nodded. 

Your mouth pulls into a frown, “I should probably check on that stain, make sure it hasn’t set–” you begin to move. 

Until Jason shakes his head, “All taken care of” 

“Jason,” you tilt your head with a small appreciative smile. 

“Just used the tricks you taught me,” he smiled, before jutting his head, “Now go get ready to sleep, I’ll go try and move the others.” 

“Thanks Jay,” Michael nodded with a smile. Jason merely patted his back before disappearing into the living room. 

Michael’s arms wrapping around you, pressing a kiss to the side of your head. 

“Can you imagine Damian in an aisle of period products?” he murmured. 

While you chuckled, hands holding his as they settled around your waist. 

“It’s definitely a funny thought”

“Our girls are certainly very lucky to have such caring cousins,” he added. 

You hum in agreement. 

“They’ve had them wrapped around their fingers since they were babies”

“We do have some pretty sweet kids, just as sweet as their mom,” he flatters you. 

Sighing in happiness, you push him to your bedroom, “I’ll meet you soon, I’ll just go help Jason move the girls”

“I can help–” he begins to say before you shoot him a look. 

“Honey, I love you, but you and I both know you’re back won’t be able to handle lifting them,” leaning up you kiss his cheek, while he nods reluctantly, slipping away from you. 

Walking into the lounge room, you see them all so peacefully settled. Lights dimmed. TV now switched off. Jason already lifting Ellie from the couch, gentle as to not disturb her. 

Jane stirs ever so slightly, while you walk over to her, prying Snickers off her lap, your arms wrapping around her to lift her.  

She curls into your arms, just like she used to when she was younger. 

God you were lucky you still took up weights. 

Carrying her with ease, walking through the halls before settling her into bed. 

About to leave, before her hand clasps around your wrist, eyes flickering as she murmurs, “Mom”

“Shh, sweetheart, go back to sleep,” you gently stroked her hair. A smile slipping onto your face. 

No matter how old she got, all you could see was the little baby that brought you peace all those years ago. 

“Love you Mom,” she mumbled with a small smile, eyes drifting shut. 

Leaning down, you kiss her forehead. 

“Love you too”

All too quickly your girls were growing up, it’d only be a matter of time before they would be leaving the home. 

The thought of it made you misty eyed. Biting your lip. 

It was just like when your nieces and nephews were growing up. Time passes in a blink of an eye. 

One moment she was a little baby swaddled in your arms and the next she was fiercely independent. 

You sigh wistfully. 

Leaving the room before slipping into your own, as Michael’s arm wraps around you, holding you close. Peppering little kisses along your cheek.

“I love you,” he murmured. 

“And I love you too”

A wave of calm settles into your home. 

Peace. 

Peace that you never once believed could be yours. 

But it was. 

And it was real. 

A loving home, a loving family, and a loving husband all within reach. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the mini chapter inspired by domaystic. while they weren't technically baby sitting, they were looking after their cousins. start of dabbling into exploring Jane and Ellie and their many different adventures with all the people who baby sit them. Let me know what you thought ✨ I am slowly working on a few other parts to add to the baby sitter chronicles, exploring a few other characters get pulled into sitter duty for Jane and Ellie. Comments, Reblogs and Likes are welcomed and appreciated 💕 As mentioned this occurs after Chap.40: Days Wrapped Up In Your Embrace Feel free to find the Rinse & Repeat Series Masterlist here 🩺 Or check out my overall Masterlist here