Author's Note: I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you thought as votes and comments are always appreciated and definitely help to keep me motivated.

Cassie sighed before looking over at her oldest. "Luke it's late," Cassie told the young boy who just looked over at her. "I can't sleep," Luke replied. He had been trying to sleep, but it was hard. He just kept thinking about everything that was going on.

He knew that everything would be okay but he still couldn't help feeling anxious and worried. He was the oldest. It was his job to look after Carlos and Mal. He had messed up. He was too busy with wanting another popsicle that he had let his guard down.

"Why not?" Cassie asked Luke as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Cause it's my fault," Luke told Cassie who scrunched her face up in confusion. "What do you mean? What's your fault?" Cassie asked her oldest not understanding what Luke was trying to get at.

"It's my fault mommy. I failed," Luke told Cassie who looked over at him once she figured out what he was saying. "Luke look at me. You did not fail," Cassie told Luke in her gentle voice. "But I'm the oldest mommy. I'm opposed to protect them," the young boy replied back, still feeling guilty.

Cassie sighed as she held him closer to her. "Luke, we talked about this. It's not anyone's fault and it's not something you could have protected her from. This stuff just happens sometimes," Cassie told Luke who laid his head down on her. "I'm scared though mommy," Luke whispered while starting to get sleepy.

Cassie slowly nodded. "I know me too but we'll be okay," Cassie whispered back while trying her best to sound confident. Cassie didn't know if she even believed that herself, but she knew that she needed to say something that would calm Luke down and get him back to sleep.

Luke was a little boy; he didn't need to worry about things like this. It was Cassie's job as the adult and the mother to worry about these things, not him. Luke smiled before closing his eyes again. "You promise?" Luke asked while drifting in and out.

Cassie put on a fake smile before looking over at him. "I promise," Cassie whispered. Once Luke heard this he finally stopped fighting it as he closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.

*A few days later*

"Come on hurry up," Cassie called out to the two young boys as she held up their backpacks. "Mommy, why can't we just miss today?" Luke whined not wanting to go back to school. They had just gotten back from their stay in the hospital with Mal. They stayed for almost a week.

During those days Cassie had let the twins stay home while they were getting everything settled and working into their new routine. She didn't feel it would be right to force them to go to school when their baby sister was in the hospital. They were now back home though which meant it was time for them to go back to school.

Carlos was excited. He had definitely missed school while Luke was trying everything he could to get out of going back. "Because you already missed almost a week of school and I don't feel like getting in trouble with your teacher," Cassie replied as she handed them their backpacks.

"But mommy," Luke began but didn't get to finish when Cassie just shook her head not wanting to hear any more complaints. "No buts you're going," Cassie told Luke as she just picked Mal up and left with the boys for the bus stop.

The twins usually rode the bus to and from school every day. Cassie would usually always walk with them to the bus stop. She didn't like the idea of them walking alone, especially in this neighborhood.

"But mommy, someone has to help with Mal," Luke told Cassie hoping to still convince her to let him miss another day of school. "Mal has me to help her," Cassie told Luke back, still refusing to give in to the young boy. "Luke, we're going to school," Carlos exclaimed to his twin, finally having had enough.

"You don't know that!" Luke cried out. "Carlos is right you're going. Now have a good day and please behave," Cassie told the twins as she hugged them one last time once the bus had arrived. "I will mommy," Carlos replied as he hugged her back and then went inside the bus.

"No promises," Luke said back as he also hugged her and joined his twin inside the bus. Cassie sighed once the twins had left and they had made it back to their home. It was always a scary feeling whenever the twins would go off to school. She knew that they would most likely be okay, but it didn't stop the sinking feeling she would get every time they would first leave.

She didn't get to experience this feeling for too long though as her phone started going off with the alert from her timer. Cassie closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try and calm herself before she looked over at the timer.

Cassie knew that this was not going to be an easy experience. The young purple haired toddler absolutely despised needles. Every time Cassie would have to check her and Mal's blood sugar, Mal would scream and cry and throw a complete fit. She didn't blame Mal though. It was definitely a scary experience for herself let alone a young toddler who was still not used to it yet.

Mal was also too young to really understand why this was happening. All she knew was that every so often her mommy would force painful needles into her tiny body. "You ready?" Cassie asked Mal, hoping to keep her distracted. The young girl's eyes immediately widened in fear.

"No! No! No!" Mal cried out as she quickly started kicking and screaming in panic. All it took were those two words that clicked immediately in her brain. "Mal I know it's scary and I know that you don't like it, but it has to be done. I'll be gentle I promise," Cassie told Mal in her gentle voice hoping to calm her down.

Mal just cried and shook her head. She didn't want to get poked again. "Okay how about if mommy goes first," Cassie asked the small girl. She knew that Mal usually felt better when she saw someone else do something first.

Cassie sighed in relief when it seemed to work as the young girl slowly nodded. Mal was still crying though but she was definitely calming down. "Okay here we go mommy's gonna go first okay," Cassie explained as she got out her lancet and placed it over her finger.

Cassie could feel Mal watching her as she just put on a smile the best she could. She definitely wasn't happy in this situation but she knew that Mal was learning by observing. If Cassie looked upset and like she was in pain then Mal would definitely feel the same.

"Ready 1...2...3," Cassie exclaimed, pressing the lancet into her finger and quickly running the blood through the meter. Cassie tried her best to still keep up her positive attitude despite the stinging feeling from her finger.

It didn't hurt as bad anymore, but it definitely still left a bit of a sting every so often. "See not so bad," Cassie told Mal in her calm and gentle voice hoping to convince the small girl that it would be okay.

Mal just shook her head as more tears started to fall. Cassie closed her eyes and pulled Mal close to her. This was killing her seeing her happy energetic little girl so terrified and upset. She knew that this had to be done though.

"I know Mal, I hate it too. It's unfair I know but it has to be done. Here why don't you help mommy first," Cassie told Mal in her soothing voice. Cassie had just checked the meter and seen that it was high again meaning that she would need more insulin. She knew that Mal always liked to help press on the syringe.

Luckily for Cassie with Mal's recent diagnosis they had been given a new refill of insulin. It wasn't too much but it did help get them through the last week. Cassie smiled when she saw that Mal had begun to calm again as the young girl slowly nodded.

"Okay great here we go. You ready? On the count of 3 okay. 1...2...3," Cassie told Mal as she guided Mal's tiny fingers to help press down on the syringe. Mal giggled excitedly as she allowed Cassie to help her press down on the insulin shot. "Yay I hewp!" Mal called out excitedly forgetting about the fact that she would be next.

"That's right you did help. Good job!" Cassie told the young girl in her best exaggerated voice, making Mal giggle more. While Mal was still enjoying being a good helper Cassie looked down at the now almost empty insulin bottle in her hand. She knew that she was going to have to go and get some more again, something she knew was not going to go over well.

Cassie quickly put these thoughts aside though as she looked over at her little girl who was distracted again. "Okay Mal you helped mommy. Now it's mommy's turn to help you," Cassie told the young girl who immediately snapped out of her distracted state. "No!" Mal cried out while quickly trying to get away.

Cassie was faster though. Before Mal could get away Cassie caught her holding her close. "I know Mal but mommy has to. It'll be quick," Cassie told Mal who kept thrashing and crying trying to get away from Cassie's hold. Cassie felt the tears starting to form as she quickly tried to pull herself together.

Cassie needed to stay strong as much as this was killing her inside. "Pwease no mama," Mal told Cassie while looking at her with her sad innocent puppy dog eyes. Cassie closed her eyes, refusing to look. She knew that she would melt immediately and this was not something she could do right now.

"Mal I have to, I'm sorry," Cassie told Mal as she just grabbed the lancet and held up one of Mal's tiny fingers. "No! No! No!" Mal screamed out as she tried harder to get away. Cassie closed her eyes not being able to watch and pressed down on the lancet.

It didn't take long before Mal started sobbing. "I know I'm so sorry Mal. Mommy's so sorry sweetie," Cassie whispered while holding the small girl close to her and running her fingers through her purple hair. "You did so good though. I'm so proud of you," Cassie told Mal while still trying to calm her down.

It didn't seem to be working though as the small girl just kept crying as more and more tears fell down her tiny cheeks. "I know it hurts, I'm so sorry. Do you want mommy to get you a bandage?" Cassie asked the small girl who calmed a little as she slowly nodded. "Dwagin," Mal mumbled out while still crying.

"Okay a dragon bandaid coming right up," Cassie called out as she grabbed one of the dragon bandages and carefully wrapped it around Mal's tiny finger. Mal smiled a little bit looking down at the dragon bandaid.

"See all better," Cassie told Mal as she just opened up a strawberry ring pop and handed it to the young girl. Mal's blood sugar was showing to be a little low.

Cassie knew that it was probably not the best idea to try and raise Mal's blood sugar with a candy but Mal had already eaten breakfast and Cassie was feeling bad about making Mal go through all this. It wasn't Mal's fault and the sugar would technically raise her blood sugar. She would just need to make sure that it didn't raise it too much.

Mal quickly lit up when she saw the ring pop. "Yay!" Mal exclaimed excitedly as she quickly took the ring pop from Cassie and started eating it. Cassie smiled seeing that Mal finally seemed to be back to her old self again. This feeling of happiness didn't last long though as Cassie caught a glimpse of the empty insulin bottle quickly reminding her that she needed more.

"Mama," Mal called out as the young girl could sense that something was going on. She didn't understand what it was, but she could tell that something was bothering her mommy. Cassie quickly snapped out of it as she turned her attention away from the empty vial and looked over at the young girl.

"What's wrong Mal," Cassie asked her youngest, starting to get worried. "Wa wong mama," Mal asked Cassie who just put on a fake smile not wanting to worry the young girl. "Nothings wrong, my little baby dragon. It's okay now, how about we take a little trip. Cassie told the young toddler who smiled and clapped excitedly.

"Yay!" Mal called out excitedly running off to get her dragon that she never left the house without. Once Mal had run off Cassie quickly let go of her act as she just grabbed her bag and got ready to leave. "Mal hurry up!" Cassie exclaimed, wanting the young girl to not take too long.

"I ba," Mal told Cassie while toddling back over with her dragon in her hand. Cassie had to hold back a laugh as she watched Mal toddle over to her as fast as her tiny legs would allow her to go. "Alright come on my little baby dragon," Cassie playfully told Mal as she picked her up and opened the door.

Cassie looked over in shock though when she saw that her mom was standing right outside. "Ma is everything okay?" Cassie asked in concern placing Mal down. "Of course I should have called. I just wanted to check in and see how my favorite granddaughter was doing. I heard that she got home last night," Marisol said to Cassie who just sighed in relief and smiled.

"Yeah she's doing so much better and definitely glad to be home," Cassie told her mom who was about to respond when she felt two little arms making her smile when she looked down to see Mal. "Gama!" Mal exclaimed excitedly while hugging onto Marisol.

Marisol smiled more as she just carefully picked up her tiny granddaughter and tickled her, making the young girl start giggling and squirming. "You're so cute. I'm so happy your finally home. Oh and I got you something," Marisol told Mal as she stopped ticking her.

Mal's face immediately lit up when she saw the new dragon toy as she quickly put her tiny arms in the air. "Dwagin!" Mal exclaimed excitedly while reaching over and hugging onto the new toy.

"That's right it's a new dragon," Marisol told her young granddaughter who smiled more while still hugging the dragon excitedly.

"Ma you didn't have to get her anything," Cassie told Marisol as she knew that her mom was trying to help but she didn't like how much Marisol would spoil the kids sometimes. "She deserves something for being such a brave little girl. Isn't that right Mal?" Marisol told both Cassie and Mal as she just tickled Mal again.

Mal just quickly started giggling more as she nodded. "What about the boys? They'll get jealous," Cassie told Marisol who smiled giving Cassie a look that Cassie knew meant there was more. "You got the boys something too didn't you?" Cassie asked her mom who just smiled and nodded.

"Well I can't forget about them and they've been such good helpers lately," Marisol told Cassie who sighed. "You know how I feel about you spoiling them," Cassie told her mom again who just waved her off. "I'm their grandmother, it's my job," Marisol playfully told Cassie who smiled a little.

She knew that she should probably be upset with her mom always trying to spoil the kids, but she couldn't help it. She did love how much her mom loved the kids and she knew that spoiling them was part of her way of showing them that. Cassie couldn't just take that away from them. "I guess that is kinda true," Cassie told Marisol who smiled and nodded before looking over and seeing Cassie with her bag.

"Are you going somewhere?" Marisol asked Cassie who sighed and slowly nodded. She knew there was no point in lying to her mom she would know right away. "Yeah um we're kinda out of insulin for both of us. I was just going to take a quick trip to the pharmacy to try and get some more," Cassie told her mother, hoping to not sound too worried or concerned.

The last thing Cassie needed right now was to worry her mom who was already worried about them. "I'll come with you then," Marisol told Cassie who just looked over. "It's fine you don't have to," Cassie quickly told Marisol who waved her off again. "I need some things anyway," Marisol said to Cassie who sighed knowing she wasn't going to get out of this.

"Okay let's just get this over with," Cassie told Marisol as she just buckled Mal into her car seat and left with her mom to the pharmacy. Cassie had a bad feeling about this but she knew she had no choice.