TWICE // D.S.

FORTY-TWO

"what am i walking into," aubrielle mumbled as she used the back of her hand to wipe at her eye. she had just woken up about twenty minutes ago because daniel had opened the door to attempt to silently steal james. he did steal james, it just wasn't silent.

"it's the first of december, what else could i possibly be doing?" christian said. he was in the middle of the living with about four boxes around him which were filled with christmas decorations. although it didn't look like it before he had explained it.

but now if you glance, you can see the red and green sticking out of the box. it just also came with white, gold, and silver. aubrielle hummed, "i'm gonna go get a snack, and then go back to bed," she explained before walking over to the cabinets where she then ate a granola bar and a few grapes.

perhaps it was the move from a few days ago or the baby shower yesterday that made aubrielle tired. either way she knew it wasn't just those events. all she wanted to do was sleep and cry over the excitement on having a baby girl in her stomach and then five minutes later cry because she can't hold her in her arms. of course, another five minutes go by and now she's crying because pregnancy takes so long.

she groaned as she laid down on her bed. her head tilted backwards to watch the tv. although she had no clue what was going on, she just knew that it was a bit blurry, colorful, and funny. so maybe that's why when daniel walked into the door, his first thought was 'lunatic'

she was an absolute mess, but somehow she made it work because daniel still thought she was adorable. he gently set james into the crib because he had fallen asleep. then he slowly walked over to aubrielle and gently caressed a hand under her eyes to wipe her tears away. yet she had a smile on her face and every couple of seconds a small and short laugh would leave her lips.

"shortcake? are you broken?" daniel asked, causing aubrielle to furrow her eyebrows and pout her lips.

"i'm not broken, you are," she sassed back and as much as it didn't sound sincere. daniel knew it was best to not laugh, who knows what would come from that.

"did you eat?" he asked and received no response, "elle, did you eat?"

"...are you mad at me?" she asked, her bottom lip jutted out

"no, why would i be mad?" he asked, concern etching his voice and features. aubrielle was never like this, did she seriously not get that much sleep?

"you called me elle, you're mad," aubrielle explained before sitting up and crossing my arms, "you rarely call me elle,"

daniel slightly tossed his head back in realization. maybe she really was a lunatic, "what do you want me to call you? shortcake?" to his surprise she actually nodded her head. aubrielle. nodded her head. to agree with the nickname she once hated. his eyebrows raised and he asked his previous question, "shortcake? have you eaten yet?"

"why yes, tall-boy who has pretty blue eyes and that i met about 6 months ago. yes, i have eaten," she answered and daniel wasn't sure whether to be concerned or be amused by aubrielle's sudden antics. was this her being a roommate?

"how much sleep have you gotten?" he asked and held the back of his hand to her head before mumbling, "no fever,"

"about six hours," she answered, "are we doing anything today or is christian going to force you to decorate?"