Heavy is the Crown

3

"You really have to be more careful around the fire, hun. Your hands won't heal if you aren't." Sasha said softly after washing the wounds on Anetra's hands, starting to wrap one in a clean bandage.

Anetra tried not to flinch as she watched her, sighing quietly. "I know..."

Sasha started on the other one when the sound of thunder roared in the distance. Bosco jumped from where she was snuggled against Irene's lap, clutching the horseshoe her sister had made her tightly in her hand. Kerri stared at the window with wide eyes before she ran to her mom's side and clung tightly to her.

"It's alright, Ker-Bear. It's just some rain, it isn't over us right now." Sasha smoothed out the small girl's hair.

Her words did little to soothe her daughter. She clung tightly to her, starting to tug on her arm. "Mama..."

Sasha took a breath that Anetra noticed was a little shaky and uneven. "It's okay, I promise. It'll-" She was interrupted by coughing that shook her body. She tried to stop it, but it only made it worse.

Anetra tried not to panic too much. If anything, Sasha might just have a cold and just needed to rest a bit. So Anetra stood up, gently taking Kerri's hand in her bandaged one. "Would you like us to put the kids to bed tonight, Sash?"

Sasha was silent, catching her breath after her coughing fit before nodding a little. "Yes please..."

"Bedtime story!" Bosco exclaimed happily, feeling more at ease when she didn't hear thunder. Irene scooped her up in her arms.

"Pajamas first, and then a bedtime story." Irene said, carrying her giggling little sister upstairs. Anetra picked up Kerri and balanced her on her hip, starting to follow her friend.

"Thank you, 'Netra..." Sasha said softly, letting her okay facade drop slightly. Without it, her exhaustion was so much more noticeable.

Anetra felt bad. Sasha did her absolute best to raise both Kerri and Bosco and treated the rest of them like they were her kids as well. She hoped and prayed that it was just a cold that was making her feel rundown.

She helped Kerri into her pajamas and grabbed her hairbrush before carrying her to the other room. Irene had managed to get Bosco into her nightgown, but she hadn't managed to get her calmed down at all.

Bosco squealed as she ran around the room, her wooden horse held up in one hand as she dodged her sister who was trying to grab onto her. "Coco-" Irene huffed. "I thought you wanted a bedtime story-"

"Playing!" Bosco pulled herself up onto Loosey's bed, trying to climb up onto the girl's bookshelf next until Luxx quickly grabbed her and held her up.

The small girl squealed, giggling and holding onto her tightly. "Luxxy-"

"Time to calm down now, hun. Let's get your hair brushed." Luxx smiled a little, carrying Bosco to Irene's bed and sitting her down in her girlfriend's lap. Bosco started to calm down a little, playing with her wooden horse as her sister started to brush her hair.

Anetra settled down on her own bed with Kerri in her lap. She started to brush her hair out, humming softly. "Which of your books would you like us to read from?"

"We've already read those so many times." Bosco said, making her wooden horse jump over Irene's leg. "You can make one up for us!"

"Yeah Anetra, you can make one up." Irene smiled as she braided her sister's hair. "Less work for me."

Anetra shifted a bit, trying to think. "What kind of story would you two want?"

"Princess story..." Kerri said quietly, moving closer to Anetra when she heard more thunder outside. "Please..."