musicaddict

"You okay?" Claire asked softly, worried she'd pushed too far.

"It could be stress, not a health condition. Or your hormones shifting. Maybe even a final growth spurt." Charlie explained, "We'll see tomorrow when you and Addy get check ups."

"Thank you." Claire said and gave Kris a quick kiss.

"Watch your tone, Katie. I'm not speaking disrespectfully to you." Charlie said, still sounding calm and unaffected, but having picked up on the edge in Katie's tone and knew how quickly that edge could become something more. "And if you misbehave, you'll get punished just how we explained when you girls first came to live with us. We're not going to let you put yourselves or your health in jeporady."

"I don't know. You'll have to wait and see and

"And now than I'm aware of it I can correct it." Charlie said, not rising to Katie's attempt at baiting her. They'd been warned about this. That the girls might push harder if they started feeling secure with them because then it'd hurt worse to lose it. She knew she and Emily weren't going anywhere though. The girls could push and test all they liked. "You tend to eat smaller portions where your sister tends to skip meals all together. I'm sorry I didn't notice it, Katie. I should have and so should Emily.

"Well good girls get rewards while naughty girls get punished." Claire whispered in her ear, remembering Kris had wanted her to be more dominating and a little more firm. "So can you wait like a good girl?"

Charlie went to protest until she thought about it for a second. Reviewing past meals, she realized Katie was right. They paid more attention to Addy's eating because she tended to either skip meals or eat light ones and they worried she wasn't getting enough calories given she was also pretty active and tended to nag her more because of that. Katie tended to eat heavier, more calorie dense food, but at a little less of it or was at least more subtle about not eating or making it look like she'd eaten more than she had. "You're right. Your mother and I will have to talk about that and come up with something because it's not healthy for either of you girls." Charlie had a few ideas already.

"Be a good girl, Kris, and wait." Claire laughed and kissed her cheek.

"Just to talk and check in. You didn't eat much, Katie, and normally you're the good eater between you and your sister." Charlie explained.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Claire's attempt at a straight face was ruined by the smile tugging at her lips. She found it adorable when Kris got annoyed or puty over not knowing what Claire had planned.

"Maybe so, but it still can't be easy to deal with." Charlie said calmly. "You know you can talk to Emily and I, right?"

"Well I don't, and even if I did - and I'm not saying I do - I wouldn't tell you what it is because I enjoy surprising you." Claire said, ignoring Kris's raised eyebrow.

Charlie sat on the edge of Katie's bed, not sure if her youngest wanted her any closer, even if she did just want to hold Katie in her lap until she felt better. "How are you doing? You've had a lot to deal with the last few days."

"Why do you always think I'm planning something?" Claire asked, laughing.

Charlie frowned and tried not to wince when Katie almost called her by her name. Maybe Emily was right and they were back to square one with the girls. Unconsciously, Charlie took a similar stance to what she had used when the girls first moved in, staying just out of arm's reach with her hands in view resting on her thighs and a soft, nonthreatening smile. She knew her size and somewhat more muscular frame has worried both Katie and Addy when they first met her. "Is it okay if I come in?"

Waif

"Not really, I just like spending time with you. Kinda of why I married you after all." Claire smirked.

Charlie sighed, knowing she couldn't really bring Katie a drink, and walked up the stairs to Katie's door. Taking a deep breath to give herself to to think of what to say, she knocked.

Nope, I win.

Bait

April pouted just alittle when Sonya picked out the dress but agreed to at least try it on. She had promised after all and she didn't want to Sonya to be disappointed. She blushed as Sonya mentioned cleaning her up, still not used to someone knowing about her diapers. She let Sonya lead her to the changing room and immediately turned bright red when she began to take out the changing supplies. "Sonya!" April whined as quietly as possible, blushing at the knowledge that anyone could hear her being changed. The tapes ripping and the diaper crinkling would not be subtle. "People will hear."

"Good." Claire smiled.

"We knew when we took them in that it'd be difficult sometimes, especially with their history, but that we'd love them through it." Charlie said, sighing as well.

Danni just nodded that she did know what Rocky had meant.