A Change of Heart – Part 8
Stiles Stilinski x Reader
Claudia was almost two years old now.
She was walking, talking in short little sentences, and keeping both you and Stiles constantly on your toes.
“Dada! Chase!” she giggled, running through the living room.
“I’m gonna get you!” Stiles laughed, pretending to stomp after her like a dinosaur.
She squealed happily before throwing herself into his arms.
“There you are!”
She wrapped her little arms around his neck.
“Dada.”
“What, Bug?”
“Wuv you.”
His heart melted every single time.
“I love you too.”
⸻
The next morning…
You were getting ready for work while Stiles had the day off.
As you slipped on your shoes, Claudia wandered into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.
“Mama.”
You smiled.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
She climbed into your lap but didn’t have her usual burst of energy.
“You okay?”
She simply rested her head against your shoulder.
Stiles noticed it too.
“She’s quiet.”
“Probably just sleepy,” you said, kissing Claudia’s forehead.
She felt normal.
You weren’t too worried.
Before leaving, you kissed both of them goodbye.
“Call me if you need anything.”
“We’ll be fine,” Stiles said confidently.
⸻
About an hour later…
Claudia was sitting on the couch watching cartoons.
Normally she’d be dancing to the theme songs.
Today…
She barely looked up.
Stiles frowned.
“Hey, Bug.”
She looked at him with tired eyes.
“Up.”
He picked her up immediately.
She rested her head on his shoulder.
Something wasn’t right.
A few minutes later, she whimpered.
Then…
She suddenly threw up all over his T-shirt.
“Oh!”
Stiles blinked.
“…Okay.”
He wasn’t bothered by the mess.
He was worried about Claudia.
She started crying.
“Dada…”
“I’ve got you.”
He cleaned her up, changed her clothes, and checked her forehead.
She felt warm.
Very warm.
He grabbed the thermometer.
A few seconds later…
102.4°F.
His eyes went wide.
“Nope.”
He immediately picked up his phone.
⸻
At work…
You were helping a patient when your phone started buzzing.
❤️ Stiles ❤️
You excused yourself and answered.
“Hey, babe.”
On the other end…
You heard panic.
“Y/N!”
“Stiles?”
“I think something’s wrong!”
Your heart immediately dropped.
“What happened?”
“She threw up!”
“Okay.”
“And now she has a fever!”
“How high?”
“One hundred and two point four!”
You could hear Claudia crying softly in the background.
“I don’t know what to do!”
“Stiles, take a breath.”
“I can’t breathe!”
“Yes, you can.”
“What if she’s really sick?”
“Listen to me.”
You kept your voice calm.
“Is she awake?”
“Yeah.”
“Is she responding to you?”
“She keeps asking for you.”
Your heart squeezed.
“Okay.”
“Is she drinking anything?”
“I haven’t tried yet.”
“Offer her small sips of water.”
“Okay.”
“And children’s fever medicine—we have some in the cabinet above the microwave.”
“Oh!”
“I forgot we had that.”
“I know.”
You could almost picture him frantically pacing through the kitchen.
“Stiles.”
“Yeah?”
“Look at me.”
“…We’re on the phone.”
You laughed despite yourself.
“You know what I mean.”
He let out a shaky breath.
“Okay.”
“She’s going to be okay.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know she’s alert, she’s with her dad, and you’re taking good care of her.”
His breathing finally started slowing.
“I hate seeing her like this.”
“I know.”
“I wish it was me instead.”
“I know.”
There was a quiet pause.
“I’m coming home.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to.”
⸻
Twenty minutes later…
You rushed through the front door.
“Claudia?”
She was curled up against Stiles on the couch with a cool washcloth on her forehead.
The second she saw you, she held out her arms.
“Mama…”
You scooped her up carefully.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
She cuddled into your chest.
Stiles looked exhausted.
“I’ve never been so scared.”
You wrapped one arm around him while holding Claudia with the other.
“You did everything right.”
“I panicked.”
“Maybe a little.”
“A little?”
You smiled.
“You called me like the house was on fire.”
“I thought it was!”
You laughed softly.
He leaned his head against yours.
“I just…”
His voice cracked.
“I can’t stand seeing her hurt.”
You kissed his cheek.
“That’s because you’re an amazing dad.”
Just then, Claudia looked up at Stiles with sleepy eyes.
“Dada.”
“Yeah, Bug?”
She reached over and patted his face.
“’Kay.”
He blinked.
“What?”
“’Kay.”
You smiled.
“I think she’s telling you she’s okay.”
Tears filled Stiles’ eyes as he kissed the top of her head.
“I’m glad, sweetheart.”
He looked at you with a sheepish smile.
“I may have overreacted.”
You grinned.
“Maybe just a little.”
“Think the sheriff’s going to make fun of me?”
Before you could answer, his phone buzzed.
Sheriff Stilinski: First sick kid?
Another message came in immediately.
Welcome to parenting. You’re doing just fine, son.
Stiles chuckled, shaking his head.
“He somehow already knows.”
You smiled.
“He always knows.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent snuggled together on the couch with cartoons playing quietly in the background. Claudia drifted off to sleep between the two of you, and while the fever would take a day or two to pass, she was exactly where she needed to be—safe in the arms of the parents who loved her more than anything.
