Bedtime Story
Title: Bedtime Story
Rated: G
Word Count: 800+
Summary: "You know your parents don't like it when I let you stay up late..."
Warnings: None
"Lily...I thought I tucked you in an hour ago," Julian spoke in slight surprise when he entered the young girl's room. He had put her to bed at exactly nine o'clock, as per Antoine's instructions. He decided to go check on her an hour later, just to make sure she was still as he left her. To his shock, the light was on and the little girl was sitting on the plush carpet, playing with the very dollhouse Julian had bought her the day she was born.
"I wasn't tired," The dark-haired girl answered without stopping her game, moving plastic figurines throughout the small rooms. Julian shook his head with a grin.
He walked over to her and sat down beside her, taking up one of the toys gently. "You know your parents don't like it when I let you stay up late..."
"I won't tell them, promise." The little girl smiled, bobbing her head playfully.
"I don't think it works that way..." Julian chuckled at her. The little girl frowned, however; clearly, she did not see the humor in her words.
"But I'm not tired, Uncle Julian. Please, can't I stay up?" The little girl peered at him, begging with her eyes. "Please?" Julian turned his head, not wanting to fall victim to the dreaded eyes. Then an idea came upon him.
"How about...I tell you a story to help you sleep?"
"Mm....okay."
Lily stood up, wandering over to her bed and climbing atop it. Julian placed the figurines inside the dollhouse with great care, before rising to his feet and ushering a chair over to the bed side. Lily bounced a little, getting comfortable. Julian watched with amusement, as the little girl soon caught his glance. "Well? Tell me the story!"
"Patience is a virtue, Lily..." Julian mused. The raven-haired princess frowned, perfectly giving off the appearance of her father. Julian grinned and rubbed his chin. "Alright, alright...now, let's see....how did it go again? Ah, yes..."
"There was a little girl, about your age, who was very lonely. Her parents had recently passed away and she had not other family members nearby who could take care of her. She tried to make friends with the other children but they would only tease her and call her horrible names. Thus, the little girl withdrew herself from people and spent most of her time in the cemetery where her parents were buried."
"She tried hard not to cry but she missed them so. Each and every day, she would visit them and secretly wish they would come back."
"One day, while visiting their graves, the little girl became distracted."
"In a mess of bushes, a bright light shone out. The little girl was both frightened and curious."
"The closer the little girl got, the brighter the light grew. Finally, the little girl got close enough to see what the light was. Inside the bright light was a little fairy, trapped by the harsh thorns of the bush. 'Please, help me!' The little fairy begged. The little girl was taught to always stop and help those in need, so she reached in to release the fairy without hesitation. Despite the pain of the thorns cutting her hands, the little girl pulled the fairy free."
"The fairy flew from the girl's hands and a beautiful light surrounded her. Soon, the little fairy had become a beautiful woman standing before the little girl."
"'Thank you so much for releasing me,' The fairy said, 'For your kindness, I shall reward you with a wish. Whatever your heart desires, I shall give it to you.'"
"The little girl thought about it for a while. Then, in a meek voice, she told the fairy her wish. 'I don't want to be lonely anymore.'"
"The fairy smiled and with a wave of her hand, spoke. 'Is that all? Come to me, child. Let me share with you a secret.' The little girl walked towards the fairy and listened closely as the fairy gave to her wisdom she'd never forget."
"Many years later, that child grew into an old woman. She had a husband, many children and grandchildren and was a friend to all. Yet, they all wondered how the woman could be so happy, having learned of what she went through as a child. They asked her repeatably but she simply smiled and said it was a secret a fairy had told her. On her death bed, they asked once more. 'What did the fairy tell you?'"
"Smiling, the woman finally gave in. 'I'll never be alone for the world is full of people who need me.'"
"And..." Julian paused to rise as he moved closer to the bed. "The woman never felt lonely ever again." He pulled the blanket up, covering the small girl's shoulders as he ran a hand through her hair.
"Good night, princess..." He gently kissed her cheek. He then turned out the light and returned to the living room, waiting for his princess' parents to come home.