#toddlerstuck

GG: why does he cry so much?!?

GG: this is really stressing us out

GG: we dont know what to do

CG: JADE, NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME MORE THAN ME, BUT I CAN’T WASTE MY TIME TRYING TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW.

CG: OR US.

GG: technically its you were trying to help

GG: or I guess still us if you meant you and baby you

CG: I MEANT CURRENT ME AND YOU, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

CG: TECHINALLY.

CG: JADE, I’M SORRY.

CG: GRUB KARKAT’S GOT ISSUES.

CG: BUT I’M BUSY WITH MY TEENAGE KARKAT ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

CG: WE SENT THE GRUBS TO YOU 4 TO DEAL WITH SO THAT ECTOBIOLOGY BULLSHIT WOULDN’T FUCK US OVER WHEN FIGHTING JACK.

CG: OR, YOU KNOW, GET ANY GRUBS KILLED.

GG: dont talk about dead grubs

CG: SORRY.

GG: its ok were all just having a lot of trouble right now

CG: JADE, I’M REALLY SORRY.

CG: BUT I’VE GOT TO GO.

CG: DON’T TEXT BACK UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES, GOT IT?

GG: got it!

GG: oops ok shutting up now

“I don’t know, Jade,” Dave said while holding Aradia. “Maybe grubs are just difficult. They warned us that Eridan and Karkat were both really hard.”

“This isn’t normal for him,” Jade insisted as she held the screaming grub.

“It seems normal to me,” said Dave, and Jade shot him a dirty look.

“Jade, I didn’t say that to upset you,” Dave promised. “I was just making a joke.”

“It’s not funny,” said Jade. “I’m scared.”

“I am, too.”

Suddenly, Karkat’s slobber bubbled up and he was hurling red slop all over his face. Jade quickly tilted him up, which she instantly regretted, realising it probably shook him even more.

“Aah!” Jade tried not to yell out of surprise.

“ROSE,” Dave’s voice cracked as he called for help.

“John!” Jade yelled. “Get paper towels!”

“I’m kinda busy!” John yelled.

“JOHN!” Jade screamed.

Aradia start crying.

“Sorry,” Dave apologised to the baby as he sat her down on the carpet. He nearly reached back for her, unesasy about his decision, but he had Karkat to deal with.

“Nobody step on the baby on the floor,” Dave said as Rose ran over. They all exchanged horrified looks, and Rose ran to move Aradia to one of the playpens. She rushed back as John appeared with some napkins.

“Oh, god,” John dropped the napkins on top of Karkat, not knowing what to do or having any desire to clean. “Sick.”

Jade’s bottom lip quivered as she cleaned Karkat up.

“Can somebody please message one of the trolls?” Jade asked. “Karkat’s just going to yell at me, but we need help.”

“I’ll talk to Fef,” John offered. “She’s probably the least busy.”

John pulled out his phone while Jade tried to soothe the gross baby.

“He needs sopor slime!” John yelled out as he got a response. “Like, to eat some!”

“They can eat it?” asked Jade.

“Gamzee sure has,” Dave pointed out.

“Okay, maybe my question was not with whether or not they can eat it, but they should eat it?”

“Perhaps it’s worth the risks if it’s for a valid medicinal purpose,” Rose theorised. “That doesn’t necessarily make me comfortable with feeding it to an infant, though.”

John filled a paper bowl with sopor slime and spooned it into Karkat’s mouth between screams.

Rose seemed anxious, but she stood by, not stopping anyone or exactly helping them drug the child.

“His little throat’s going raw…” Dave frowned.

“Should you give him more?” asked Jade. “I mean, he ate it just fine.”

“I don’t think so,” said John.

“How long does it take to work?” asked Dave.

“I don’t know,”

Karkat started to hiccup, and his cries lightened.

“Hello?” Cronus answered, the headset still on his head as he focused his hands back on the game.

“Eridan’s sick. Can you go pick him up?”

“What do you mean ‘sick’?”

“It seems like he’s just got a fever,” said Dualscar. “It would be very, very good if you could just take care of him on your own today,” Cronus swallowed hard.

“I…okay,”

“I’ll take over at 6 like normal,”

“Okay,” said Cronus. “Bye,” His mind started racing with worries. Dualscar said it was just a fever, but Cronus was starting to feel like how he did when Eridan was little and needed constant care. He’d been pretty much okay for about a year now, and Cronus couldn’t stand to have him go back to that.

The daycare lady was holding Eridan when Cronus got there. He seemed asleep.

“His temperature is up 2 degrees. I think it’s the flu. I gave him an antihistamine and some tylenol since his head and tummy hurt,”

“Any of the other kids sick?” asked Cronus, and when Eridan heard his voice, his eyes shot open and he started crying and reaching for Cronus. Cronus quickly took his brother as he tried to fling himself from The Dolorosa’s arms.

“Shoosh, I’m here now,” said Cronus, holding the back of Eridan’s head. He continued crying, but as he stopped squirming, Cronus took a second to feel Eridan’s cheek.

“I’ve heard some other sniffles and I’m sending Karkat home, too,”

“Alright,” said Cronus, having a bit of trouble hearing over his wailing brother. “Thanks,”

Eridan squirmed around, holding his stomach uncomfortably as Cronus read the thermometer.

“Let’s get you into some pajamas,” said Cronus, sitting down the thermometer and getting in to Eridan’s dresser. He got out a onesie with angelfish on it. Cronus thought it had to be made out of the softest material out there.

“Would you like a diaper or your night time pants?” asked Cronus.

“It’s day! I get big boy pants!” insisted Eridan.

“I know, I know,” said Cronus, noticing a smudge on Eridan’s glasses. “Here, give me those for a second,” Cronus took Eridan’s glasses.

“Hey!” Eridan reached out as Cronus rubbed the lens on his shirt before slipping them back on Eridan’s head.

“Better?” asked Cronus.

“Uh huh,”

“Now, I just want to make sure you don’t have an accident and make a mess,” explained Cronus.

“I won’t!”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just have me change you if you don’t feel good enough to get up when you have to go?” asked Cronus, and Eridan didn’t say anything.

“Diaper or night time pants?” asked Cronus, and Eridan stayed silent, looking off to the side and ignoring his older brother.

“Eridan, make a choice,” said Cronus. “When you’re sick you need to do as your told,”

“Diaper,” Eridan said quietly, still not looking at Cronus.

“Is Daddy at work?”

“Yeah. He’ll be home later,” Cronus quickly got Eridan dressed and carried him to the living room.

“Pick whatever movie you’d like,” said Cronus, trying to sit Eridan down in front of their DVD shelf. Eridan held on to him tight, so Cronus stood back up fully, knowing his little brother wouldn’t let him put him down. Eridan looked over the movies and pointed.

“Princess Jasmine,” said Eridan.

“Aladdin?” Cronus took the DVD out. “That sounds good,” Cronus unconsciously started humming the tune of Prince Ali as he put the disc in. After sitting down on the couch with Eridan in his arms, Eridan asked,

“Paci?”

“Yeah, sure thing honey,” Cronus stood back up, Eridan still tucked into his neck, and headed back to Eridan’s room to get his pacifier. It was kept in a drawer up high because they were trying to break the habit, but Cronus gave it to Eridan without a fight. Eridan sucked on it, seeming much more content. Cronus cuddled back up with him on the couch. Eridan held onto his older brother tightly. Cronus got his phone out of his pocket and took a picture of his little cuddle bunny before texting his dad about how Eridan was doing. Eridan was so cute. He sniffled a bit and his nose was running, but Cronus didn’t really mind the mess. He mostly just worried and felt Eridan’s forehead as he hiccuped. Cronus tried to watch the movie and cuddle his brother, but after about 20 minutes, he just couldn’t take it. He was having trouble breathing from all of the anxiety, and he honestly wanted to cry. Eridan should be running around and playing. He never really does that, but he should at least be playing quietly on his own like he normally does!

“I’ll be back in a few,” said Cronus, trying to sit Eridan down on the couch.

“I come with,” Eridan gripped Cronus’ shirt.

“You can’t come with,”

“Why not?” Eridan mumbled with the pacifier in. Dualscar was adamantly against supporting smoking in front of the toddler, but Cronus knew he couldn’t keep Eridan inside without telling the truth. He tried to get the little boy on his side.

“I’m just so sad that you’re sick that I have to smoke,”

“You not s’posed to smoke,” mumbled Eridan.

“I know,” said Cronus. “Don’t tell Dad,” Eridan argued something, but Cronus couldn’t understand him with the pacifier in his mouth. Cronus felt guilty that he’d be leaving his brother for a few minutes, and with all of the frustration he almost wanted to tell Eridan that Dad smokes just as much as he does, but the point was that he wasn’t supposed to influence Eridan about smoking.

“Fine, you can tattle if you want,” Cronus sat Eridan down, and Eridan let out a high pitched whine.

“I’ll be right back!” Cronus insisted.

Eridan started to cry softly, cuddled up into Cronus’ chest. Cronus rubbed Eridan’s back. Eridan had been whining about his tummy hurting. Cronus tried to hold himself together and comfort his little brother through 10 minutes of gentle hiccup filled cries. Eridan started to feel warmer and suddenly Cronus felt himself covered in hot liquid.

“Eridan!” Cronus sat up in shock, still holding Eridan close as he threw up on his older brother, the couch and the wall. His little coughs were pathetic. With the pacifier forced from his mouth, Eridan started bawling.

“Shoosh, shoosh, it’s okay,” Cronus rubbed Eridan’s back. “Let’s get you cleaned up. Do you feel better?” Cronus tried to ask Eridan more questions about how he felt, but he just sobbed.

Cronus finished up a quick shower with Eridan waiting for him on the bathroom floor, all bathed and in fresh pajamas.

“I want a bottle,” Eridan said pitifully.

“You hungry?”

“Yeah,”

“Would you like some cheese and crackers, too?” asked Cronus, and Eridan mumbled something.

“What was that?”

“Maybe,”

“Okay,” said Cronus, putting on his pants and picking Eridan up. He heated up a bottle of milk for him, even though Eridan hardly ever gets bottles anymore, and it had been a few months since he’s had one without having to throw a tantrum for it. Cronus wanted to take Eridan’s temperature again, but he wanted to keep Eridan fed most of all. Once Eridan was settled in to his brother and suckling away, Cronus texted his dad.

“He puked. It’s a huge mess. I’m going to fucking cry.” When Dualscar replied,

“I’ll come home.” Cronus sighed and relaxed his shoulders. As he gave Eridan his bottle, it calmed HIM some.

Even though Eridan had been quiet and even ate a few bites of cheese, he started crying and reached for Dualscar when he came through the door.

“Don’t feel good, champ?” Dualscar asked, holding Eridan close.

“I’m not sure he’s had enough to eat,” said Cronus, clearly a mess.

“Hello?” Roxy answered, hearing Dave sobbing in the background. It was late, but she didn’t mind waking up if her friend needed her.

“Roxy, I need help. Dave’s sick,” said Bro. “I don’t know if I should bring him to the hospital. He seems too little to get sick and be okay. He’s not even a cute baby yet. He still looks like a potato,”

“Take a deep breath, Dirk,”

“Roxy, help me,”

“What’s wrong with Dave?”

“He keep shitting and puking and sneezing and I don’t know how to make it to stop. I think I’m going to have a panic attack. I could take a pill, but then I wouldn’t be as attentive to him, and he needs me,”

“Don’t take your anxiety medicine, hon,” said Roxy. “You’re right, you need to be attentive. You have to calm down on your own. Please, take a deep breath,” Bro listened this time.

“Have you taken his temperature?” asked Roxy.

“Yes, it’s 101.2,” said Bro.

“Are you sure that’s right?” asked Roxy, a little nervous. She was expecting that it wouldn’t be so bad and she’d just come over and help. Maybe let her friend take his anxiety pills and get a nap while she watches his baby. She’d have to get a neighbor to watch Rose or something so she wouldn’t get sick, but if she waited an hour or 2 she could maybe get some early rising elderly neighbors to help without being upset with her.

“I mean, I put it in his butt like you’re supposed to, and I’ve done it a few times tonight, so I assume it’s right,”

“Oh god. Kay,” Roxy tried to stop herself from saying anything too negative. She knew that she was freaking him out more and that was the exact opposite of what he needed.

“I think you need to take him to the emergency room,”

“Roxy, that’s not like just going to the doctor, is it?”

“No, it’s not,”

“I don’t want them to hurt him,”

“I know,” said Roxy. “I’m just scared. You’re scared, too,” Dirk was taking quick breaths.

“He might be in a lot of pain,” Roxy pointed out. “He won’t stop cryin’, will he?”

“No,” It seemed to Roxy like there was a small chance that Dirk was crying, too.

“He doesn’t even have much blood. He’s going to be in so much pain when they take it!”

“I know, I know,” said Roxy. “But you’re right. He’s too little. Take him to the ER and hold him as much as you can. He’ll need your comfort,”

“Roxy, I can’t do it!” Bro started sobbing. “I can’t see that! I can’t let that happen to him!”

“Dude, get a hold of yourself,” said Roxy. “You’re makin’ Dave cry more. He knows you’re worried. But you know what you really can’t let happen? You can’t let all of his little baby senses shut down because he got some horrible infection. A good dad would take him to the ER and try to be strong. You can cry there! Lots of people cry there! Now will you take him?”

“Oh god,” Bro’s chest shook as he cried. “Roxy, you have to take him,”

“Dirk, you know Dave better. You need to be there to answer questions,”

“We’ll both go,”

“Rose can’t go,” said Roxy.

“Oh fuck you’re right!” cried Bro. “Whatever the fuck happens, she can’t be around Dave! I’d die before something hurt her!”

“You need to get a hold of yourself and take him to the ER. I’ll stay up and be on the phone,” said Roxy, but she got no response. Bro was absolutely losing it.

“What is it, Tavros?”

“My tummy hurts,” Tavros continued to cry.

“Oh,” Boxcars rubbed Tavros’ tummy, trying to soothe him back to sleep. Tavros kept crying.

“Want me to read you a story?” asked Boxcars.

“Yes,” Tavros hiccupped.

“Okay,” Boxcars turned on the light and noticed how flushed Tavros was.

“Which story would you like, buddy?”

“The one with, *hic*, the uhh, fairies, and the uhh…”

“Got it,” Boxcars brought a book to the bed and cuddled up with Tavros, pressing his cheek up against the toddlers. He was burning up, but he wasn’t crying so hard anymore. He just sniffled as Boxcars read to him.

The story was not satisfactory in getting Tavros back to sleep. Boxcars decided to negotiate with Tavros. Temperature taking and medicine in exchange for sleeping in Daddy’s bed and watching cartoons was agreed upon. Tavros was good, as usual, and Boxcars tucked Tavros into the blankets like a cocoon. A few more blankets than usual were added to the bed, too. Boxcars was starting to fall back asleep when Tavros started whimpering again.

“What’s wrong, sport?” Boxcars kissed Tavros’ cheek.

“My tummy,”

“Do you feel like yer gonna throw up?”

“Maybe,”

“I’ll get the trash close for if you do need, too,” said Boxcars, putting the bin on Tavros’ side of the bed. He didn’t think there was a chance in hell that Tavros would make it in, but he wanted to try to teach him early.

“If you feel really bad and I’ve fallen asleep, wake me up, okay?”

“Okay,” Tavros nodded.

“Good boy,” Boxcars got back in bed, yawning. He started to relax, cuddled up next to his little space heater kid. Then Tavros started hiccupping, and his stomach started making noise.

“How are you feeling?”

“Ouchie,” Tavros hiccupped.

“You sure that nothing hurts?” asked the nurse, bent down at Dave’s eye level.

“I’m sure!” insisted Dave, his face completely flushed.

“Not even your throat?” she asked, knowing Dave’s usual complaint.

“Not one bit! Want me to yell to prove it?”

“No, no. No shouting. But are you sure you don’t want to take a nap at least?”

“No naps!” chirped Dave, knowing that he couldn’t budge a single inch or Bro would be told that he was sick.

“Well, since your teacher thinks your sick, I’m going to at least have to take your temperature. If you have a fever, you can’t go back to class,”

“I don’t like having my temperature taken,”

“It’ll just take a few seconds, sweetheart,” the nurse promised, touching Dave’s cheek. “Go sit down on the cot,” Dave listened, but he was a little uneasy about all of this. HE wanted to pick whether or not he went back to kindergarten. The nurse held a big, long thermometer in Dave’s mouth for a few seconds before taking it out.

“You never put that in anyone’s butt, do you?” he asked suspiciously.

“No, I don’t,” answered the nurse, trying not to laugh. “Now, honey, you do have a fever, so I’m going to have to call your brother and see if he can come get you,”

“Could you call his boyfriend instead?” asked Dave, wondering if Jake would make him get his tonsils taken out. He liked cuddling his brother when he was sick better, but Jake was really nice, too. Dave’s favourite thing when he was sick was having them both cuddle him while they watched movies together.

“If your brother’s too busy at work, I’m sure he’ll call him and have him come get you,”

“You don’t understand. Jake never takes me to the doctor, that’s always Bro. So if I just go to Jake’s house, I might not have to go. Jake has a big nice bed, too. And lots of movies! Not a lot that I know, though. So I’ll get to watch a brand new movie!”

“If you don’t go to the doctor, you won’t get the medicine you need,”

“That’s okay,”

“Why are you scared to go to the doctor?”

“She wants to take my tonsils out!”

“But, don’t you want to be sick less?”

“Yeah,”

“You’ll keep getting sick if those tonsils stay in. Going to the hospital will be no fun, and your throat will hurt a lot for a week or so, but then you’ll hardly get a sore throat anymore,”

“That’s okay, I’ll just keep getting sick,”

“Why don’t you lay down? I’m sure you don’t feel good,” suggested the nurse, noting the listless look that came across Dave’s eyes. He started to twitch, so she quickly pushed him onto his side and checked the time as he threw up and wet himself a little bit. Dave blinked his eyes a bit as his seizure stopped, tears forming.

“I feel bad,” he cried.