"EMMA/EMMY"
(part One of Two)

"Emmy? Can I talk you for a moment?" Alan entered his daughter purple-decorated bedroom. "It’s about Sheila," he said, referring to Dr. Carter, Emmy’s therapist.

Emma looked up from her homework. "Sure dad, what’s up?" she asked, sitting up and making room for him on the bed.

Smiling, Alan sat on the bed and tousled her hair affectionately, then unfolded the papers he had in his hands. "It’s just a detail. I need to schedule payments for Sheila for the next six months, and, well..." he said, hesitating. "I’d like to know how things are going between the two of you."

"Um, okay, like what do you want to know?" Emma asked. Sheila had been a rather touchy subject as of late. They had hit a hard spot in her therapy – about the girl’s old family – and it was very slow going.

"Well, I don’t need the details of course, that’s private," he said as he smiled reassuringly and caressed her cheek, "but, well, Sheila’s very expensive to say the least, and I’d like to know if we’re doing the right thing. But even beyond that," he added, "I want to know if you feel like she’s helping you. Because if she’s not, we might look for someone else who is."

Emma nodded. "I think so anyways, we’re doing really good," she tried to sound confident, because she was just not in the mood to go through another ‘are you doing all she asks?, is she really helping at all?’ lecture. She wasn’t going to get better overnight and it was apparently something he forgot sometimes.

"Well then I’m glad," Alan said, giving her a more convinced smile. He was always afraid that however good this Dr. Carter was, she wouldn’t be able to get to the bottom of his Emmy’s problems – and no pun intended in that. He knew it was probably hard to discuss certain topics, but he also saw how little changes there were in Emmy, and that wasn’t very satisfactory. "But make sure you tell me if that isn’t the case, you know you can talk to me about everything too," he added.

Emma was quick to nod. "I know dad, but everything’s great!" Her heart sank as she lied so blatantly, but she just could not help it.

He could see some doubt on her little face even as she said that, but decided not to pry any further and just smiled. "Alright," he said, and stood from the bed, kissing her forehead. "I’ll be downstairs if you need me."

"Okay dad, thanks. I’m almost done with my homework, I think I’ll be done by supper," she commented, trying to break what felt like and awkward silence.

"Good. See you then, it’ll be ready in about a hour," Alan said, then exited her room and closed the door behind him. Something wasn’t right, she wasn’t telling the whole truth. But then again, perhaps she was just annoyed at his prying... Sighing, he went downstairs and started dinner.

* * *

The next morning, rather early for a Saturday morning, Emma was nudged awake by Alan, who held the phone. "It’s for you," he said, handing it to her.

"Hello?" she asked sleepily.

"Hey little me," Emma Thompson said, inventing a brand new nick that she hoped she would like. "Slept well? I wanted to let you know that Greg took Gaia out for a father-daughter day, and, well... wouldn’t it be nice if you came here and we hang out together for a bit, hmm?"

Emma beamed. "Ooh, that’d be so cool! I just got up, so give me a few to get ready and I’ll be right over! Thanks!" This news had brightened her whole morning (five minutes of her morning anyways) and she was wide awake right away.

"That’s good, I’m glad. You’re welcome, and thanks yourself. Don’t bring all of your makeup as you always do, I’ve got plenty of mine," she joked. "Bye!"

Taking the phone back from his daughter, Alan asked: "What are you two Emmas up to?"

"Gonna hang out. Gaia and Greg are doing some quality time. Can I get a ride over?" She stood from the bed and stretched a bit, then began pulling clothes out of the closet.

Raising his eyebrows, for that was some unexpected, but pleasant, news, Alan nodded. "Sure you can... are you happy about it, little one?"

Emma nodded. "Of course! Usually Gaia is bouncing everywhere, she and I have never got to just hang and be girls before!" She smiled brightly. "That okay dad?"

Not wanting to inquire what ‘to be girls’ corresponded to, Alan just smiled and nodded. "Of course it is. You know how glad I am to know you have a... well, friend, in her, I mean..."

Emma bounded over and hugged him very enthusiastically. "That means you owe me a movie tomorrow, silly! ‘Cuz I was gonna ask you to take me today!"

Alan rolled his eyes. "There’s no escaping you, is there." Again he tousled her hair and tickled her belly and sides and armpits. "Come on, get ready, I’ll warm up the car."

Giggling from the tickles, Emma playfully pushed him out the her room and hurried to dress. She grabbed a couple of movies and stuffed them in a Hello Kitty bag and literally bounced down the stairs. "Daaaaaaaad, where did my shoes go?" she yelled.

"Where they always are!" he called out from the front yard. "Beneath the breakfast nook in the living room, you always leave them there, you messy girl."

"I’m not messy!" she called back. "I am artistic, and therefore entitled to be scatterbrained!" she shot back with a giggle.

"therefore... entitled... scatterbrained..." he said, hands on his hips, shaking his head. "My, and me here thinking you were illiterate since all you read is that Harry Potter junk." He smiled as he said this, expecting at least to be thrown something at.

But instead of throwing something, he tackled him on the front lawn. "You meanie!" she teased, beaming. "And it ain’t junk, it has made me uber rich!"

Tackling her back and again starting a tickling contest, Alan beamed too: "Made us, Emmy, us," he said, winking. "C’mon, get in the car, we don’t want the former Branagh mistress to wait for long, do we," he exclaimed as he got up and rode the car, himself.

Laughing at the way he had called Emma, Emmy bounded along and hopped into the car with her small bag. "Wow, I’m really excited!" she said, turning on some loud music.

And what music! Turning down the volume ‘cause he couldn’t stand that snotty Justin Timberlake, Alan started driving. "It shows, baby, it shows. So, how are you two going to mess up?"

"Mess up?" she stuck out her tongue. "Movies, food, I dunno, just be girls together," she giggled. "I’ve been lonely since Sammie got busted. Yikes, spanked AND grounded for a month! I’d die!"

"Well I don’t see you two doing anything constructive," he teased, "but maybe that’s the point after all. And I know how you miss Sammie, I do too, but heck, breaking a grounding in the first place wasn’t a bright idea, was it." They drove through the semi-deserted streets till they finally reached Emma’s house.

"Aww, you do too? I will tell her, she’ll be thrilled." She hugged him tight. "Silly dork, sneaking out, bah, that is so unsafe, like duh!" she shook her head at her silly friend.

"Unsafe, for sure!" he said. "I didn’t know she got spanked too. Well, suits her fine. You be sure you don’t if I ever ground you, alright?" His fatherly instinct just would kick in from time to time.

Emma rolled her eyes. "I know dad, I know. Emma will take me back home, okay?" she kissed his cheek. "And don’t be lonely!" she teased as she bounded to the front door.

"Oh I am bound to decay in the abyss of my loneliness without you," he teased back, while cocking his eyebrows. "You have a good time sweetheart, and say hi to Emma for me."

Still smiling, Emmy waved back and rang the door bell. Emma opened the door a second later, as though she had been waiting right behind it. "Well, here you are, little me," she patted her head, then waved at Alan who was already driving away.

Emmy threw her arms around Emma and hugged her tight. "Eww, ‘little me’ is okay, but I don’t wanna be ‘mini me’ like in Austin Powers!"

Hugging her back and kissing her hair for a moment, Emma said: "Eww... no way I’d be so cruel, not even you deserve that!" she teased. "So, what have you brought? Or you’d rather just chit-chat and waste time?"

"I brought a couple movies, but talking is good." Emmy set her things down by the door and kicked off her shoes.

"Behaving like at home already, huh?" Emma teased again. "Well, tell you what, let’s start one of those movies, if there’s something to say, we’ll say it anyway." She went to the kitchen and came back out with a HUGE bowl of popcorn and two large cartons of soda.

"I brought School of Rock and Chicago."

"Umm... definitely Chicago, for me, how’s that sound?" she said while walking into the living room and tossing away the clothes that Gaia had left there, shaking her head.

"Aww Gaia is messy, that sweet baby," Emmy commented and popped in the DVD before curling up on the couch.

"Yes she is, like a true Thompson girl," Emma said, and laughed. Then she sat on the couch, less than a couple of feet from Emmy, not sure whether she’d like to stick closer or not.

And in fact, not even a minute into the main titles, Emmy shifted towards Emma with slow moves. "So how are ya mum?" she asked slowly.

Emma’s heart warmed up at hearing that, and she made no attempt to mask that. "Aww... you’re sweet. I’m alright, happy to be with you. And you, my dear? Everything alright?"

Emmy nodded, though doubt that everything was really alright did flicker across her face. "Yes, I guess so," she said, wishing the movie would start faster.

As the production companies and the main titles were still rolling on the screen, Emma sat closer and circled the girl’s shoulders with her arm. "Well, that’s good to hear." The young teenager gave a soft sigh and leaned her head against Emma’s chest, wishing that the nagging guilt from lying to her dad would go away and let her enjoy the movie.

But Emma was too much of a bright woman, and mother, not to understand that the girl was not being free to enjoy her day with her, so she started caressing her hair as she spoke. "All okay with that big bear Alan?"

That made Emmy squirm slightly, but she gave no answer besides a hushed ‘uh huh’.

Uh oh, struck a chord, Emma thought to herself. "You being a good girl?" she continued, and also kissed the top of her head to make her understand she wasn’t being inquisitive, but only supportive.

Emmy gulped. "No," she squeaked before she could stop herself, "but I can’t tell daddy."

That made Emma grab the remote and lower the volume just a bit. "Why, what’s up, little me?"

"I lied and I can’t tell daddy I did ‘cuz then he won’t let me see Sheila anymore!" Emmy whined, hugging Emma’s waist.

Seeing how quick she was near crying already, Emma paused the movie and turned Emmy on her lap so as to face her. "What is this all about? And who’s Sheila, honey?"

"My therapist or psychiatrist person that dad got so I don’t think I’m crap anymore," Emmy squirmed, feeling like Emma would be angry with her. "Dad doesn’t think she’s doing any good or that I’m not trying enough so I had to lie so he’d make the contract again."

"Oh," Emma just said, absorbing the new stream of information best as she could. She didn’t even know Emmy did have a therapist in the first place, though it did make sense after all: that self-esteem problem of hers was quite pronounced. "I understand... he told you that, honey?"

"Well, he asked how things were going so he could renew the contract, because she’s expensive. He doesn’t really understand sometimes that it’s really hard! I’m not a cartoon, I can’t be better in a matter of minutes." She wriggled again and started biting her thumb nail. "So I lied last night."

That made sense to Emma’s ears, and she wondered if Alan was really being prying or pressing or if that existed only in Emmy’s head. Not that it mattered anyway: if she felt like that, it sure wasn’t doing any good to her therapy.

"You told him everything is perfect, I guess..."

Emmy nodded. "He always asks and he gets frustrated that it is going so slow. He doesn’t know if it’s worth the hassle. But, we’re in a really hard spot right now. About... about my OLD dad and all the stuff that we fought about and the things he did... and said..." she closed her eyes for a moment. "So I end up crying a lot, so I can’t talk if I’m bawling my eyes out, which is good, to release the feelings, but I dunno, I don’t think he gets it."

Emma listened without saying a word, letting the girl pour her heart out. "That makes sense, and I don’t think this means you’re going slow. It’s just your rhythm, there’s no need to force it. But," she said, shifting position on the couch, "you know if it’s really helping you, deep down, or if you are just wasting your time and your father’s efforts into this. And don’t say that you’re wealthy anyway because you know that’s not the point. And whatever your feelings toward your work with Sheila are, you need to be sincere with your dad about this."

"But if he thinks we’re not going fast enough or something, he might not renew the contract and I don’t want to start over with another therapist! It was hard enough to share with Sheila at first! So I lied and now I feel horrible about it, because I know it’s really bad to lie. But if I tell him, he’ll be angry about both!" Emmy sighed.

"I see your point, Emmy," Emma said, nodding, and truly understanding it; it must have looked like a huge riddle to the thirteen-year-old’s eyes. "I would suggest you don’t start over with another therapist at all, and I’m going to tell Alan that, if you want me to, hmm?" she said in a sweet tone. "But," she added, a bit firmer now, "lying to Alan is not good. He’s going to be upset for that, and not for the fact that you’re going slow, if you know what I’m saying."

Emmy nodded to Emma’s suggestion to speak with Alan. "I know lying is naughty," she whispered, hanging her head. "I’m sorry to him and to you, and to me, ‘cuz it hurts to lie."

Ironically, that made Emma smile. "This is what I wanted to hear, little one," she said. "It’s not wrong to lie just because it’s a stupid rule, but because it undermines people’s trust in you, and yes, also for how it makes you feel. It’s bad, isn’t it? Like something enclosing your ribs and gripping your stomach."

Emmy nodded, her head still hung. "It’s really a bad feeling, and I know I’m not supposed to, but I felt like I had to and now I’ll be in trouble... are you upset?"

"I’m not upset, sweetie," Emma said, ruffling her hair, "I’m just sorry that you felt you had to resort to lying, and that you couldn’t help yourself. You know better, Emmy."

Emmy sniffled and nodded. "Am I in trouble mum?" she whispered.

As much as it hurt her terribly to see Emmy like that, Emma sighed and nodded slowly. "Yes honey, I’d say you are. I’ve told you how I sympathise with you," she explained, with a tone as soothing as it could be, "but also that lying is wrong, and you do know why. It destroys the mutual trust existing between two people, and I’m sure you don’t want that with your daddy, do you?"

"No, I don’t want dad and I to not trust each other. That is so un-cool." She gave a heavy sighed. "Are you gonna punish me mum?" she whimpered, but looking up at her, right in her eyes.

Emma thought how weird the word ‘un-cool’ sounded, but she had to admit it did get the message through as to how Emmy must’ve been feeling. "Oh Em," she said. "You lied, didn’t you? Well, listen: if it was Gaia, I would give her a spanking. What do you say? Would she deserve it?"

The girl nodded. "Daddy hates lies a lot. And I *hate* that stupid soap," she shivered.

"I can understand that, of course," Emma nodded, trying to show her she really did care. "Em, I’m going to be frank: I love it that you consider me as your mum, you have no idea how much it honours me... but you have to take what comes with it. Do you know what I’m saying?"

"Yes mummy," Emma whispered. "I won’t fight or anything, promise. Just please no corner afterwards," she trembled at the thought.

Emma didn’t answer about the corner, an idea forming in her mind already, and instead nodded and hugged the girl even tighter, enclosing her in her arms. "Come here, honey," she said.

Emmy needn’t telling twice of course, and she buried herself deep in the motherly embrace. "I love you, I’m sorry I screw up so much!"

For a moment, Emma thought about a million things she could say about that comment, but decided it was better to say nothing: Emmy was working on it with Sheila, and sure with Alan too, there was no need for anymore reinforcement.

"It’s alright sweetie... come on, now, stand up. Let’s get this over with so we can watch the movie and you feel better, hmm?" she offered, with a smile.

Emmy hugged her tight, then stood beside her, giving a small smile to try and be brave as she worked the zipper down, unbuttoned and lowered her khaki’s, waiting for instructions.

Seeing her smile, Emma gave her one, herself. "You’re very brave, honey. It must have taken a great deal of courage to bring this up, hmm?" And as she said that, she started working Emmy’s yellow knickers down.

Emmy nodded. "It was really hard mummy." When her panties went down, she squeaked and covered herself, but made no attempt to stop it.

"I’m sure it was, and I’m very proud of you for that." She took her wrist, gently, and pulled on her, guiding her delicately across her lap while her panties fell to her ankles to join the khakis.

Emmy went rather ungracefully over her surrogate mum’s lap and wriggled to try and get comfortable. "Is it gonna be a really big one?" she asked softly.

Taking hold of the young teen’s body around her waist and thighs, Emma positioned it in the ideal way for a spanking, with her little bottom sticking right up. "I’m going to use my hand, Emmy, and then a few swats of my slipper, because lying is very wrong and I need you to understand that... have you been slippered before?"

"No mummy," Emmy replied nervously. "I hope it don’t hurt worse then the brush or that dang ruler!" she exclaimed.

"No honey, not even nearly as much, but it will sting your bummy quite good," Emma said, sincerely, as she rubbed her cheeks, waiting to start. "Do you understand?"

Emmy nodded. "I understand why, but I don’t want it to hurt, but that’s normal. No one *wants* to get spanked."

"You are very right on that," Emma said, and taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and started spanking Emmy’s bare bum.

Emmy gasped and squirmed a bit as the spanking began. She wrapped her arms around the couch pillow near her, and squeezed it for some support.

Emma kept it up with a steady pace, delivering quite firm smacks all over her bottom cheeks. "Lying is naughty, Emmy..." whack! whack! whack! "... and you must never do it." whack! whack! whack! Contrarily to Alan, she used to scold a lot during the actual spanking.

Emmy nodded and squirmed, her legs moving slightly with each spank to her little tush. "Ow, ouch!" she yelped

"Telling the truth..." whack! whack! "... always pays off..." whack! whack! "... in the end..." whack! whack! "... and NOT lies, Emma Charlotte," she said, adding a little more severity to her tone now, but never yelling. And the blows kept coming down.

The young girl nodded again, still yelping from the swats, but Emma’s hand wasn’t as large as Alan’s so it was taking longer to cover her bum cheeks. "Ooooh! Ouch! Owy!"

"And if you lie..." whack! whack! "... you get spanked..." whack! whack! "... by Alan or by me..." whack! whack! "... right on your bare bottom..." whack! whack! "... do you understand?" she continued, noticing her bum getting a rosy pink now.

"Yes ma’am!" Emmy yelped, now squirming quite a bit more, her legs wriggling and kicking with the swats, almost like the rhythm of a song.

Emma circled her waist with her free arm to keep her steady, then increased the tempo and the intensity of the smacks a bit, focusing on her sit-spot on both sides for a good half a minute. "I love you very much, sweetie..." whack! whack! "... and I won’t let you lie." whack! whack! whack!

"Mummy I sorry!" Emmy wailed, finally bursting into tears as her legs continued to kick. One hand flew back to try and block. "I won’t lie anymore, I promise!"

The woman took Emmy’s hand and gently pushed it away, then resumed smacking some more. The girl’s bottom was now getting bright pink, and she was about to stop. whack! whack! whack!

Emmy cried "Mummy, stop, I be good!!" she begged, her hand returning to clutch the pillow. She was surprised Emma hadn’t pinned it in the small of her back like Alan did.

"I know you will," Emma said, almost in a whisper. Then, after five or six harder whacks to her thighs, she stopped and released Emmy’s waist, letting her cry out.

Emmy laid still now, crying softly to herself, a few sobs here and there. "Do you still love me?" she whispered. She knew without a doubt that Alan loved her no matter how often he spanked her, but perhaps from Emma she expected something different?... She wasn’t quite sure, herself.

"Emmy, of course I still love you... why do you even ask?" Emma said, rubbing her bare, quite red bottom cheeks, gently kneading the warm flesh with her fingertips.

"Dunno, just wanna make sure," Emmy whispered, "‘cuz I love you lots and I don’t wanna make you mad because I do stupid things sometimes."

Emma noted how she didn’t say she was stupid, but that she did stupid things – that was quite a step after all. Still, her heart broke into a thousand pieces as Emmy said the exact same things that Gaia did after a spanking. To her, it didn’t mean Em had the mind of a four-year-old, but rather than she never really had two parents that cared, and despite Alan’s loving ministrations, it was still rather hard to get used to the thought, sometimes.

"I love you too, honey, and I’m not mad, but I will correct you if you make mistakes."

"Okay mummy," she whispered. She didn’t realise how childish she sounded right now. To her, it was finally someone who loved her and *wanted* to be a mother or like one to her. Instead of belittling her or leaving her to some maniac’s wrath. It felt very good inside, to have a dad *and* a mum now that cared.

"Emmy, honey," she said, quitting her rubbing of the girl’s bottom. "You still have a slippering to go through, alright? I promise I won’t go too hard on you since it’s the first time, but it will sting and that’s the point," she said, trying to speak soothingly and not sound angry – which she wasn’t. "Do you trust me with that?"

Emmy hiccuped, and nodded. "I’m all nervous," she whispered, giving a little shudder. "I am always nervous when I get new things."

"Then I’ll try to make this very quick so it won’t last long," Emma said, and she reached down and slipped off one of her slippers, which were padded on the front but had a soft leather sole, which she placed on Emmy’s small, quivering bottom.

The girl gave a wriggle at the feel of it, and nodded to signal that she needed it now before she got anymore nervous. So, without waiting any longer, Emma raised the slipper and brought it down with medium force across both of the child’s buttocks, leaving a dark pink imprint.

Emmy gasped "Owwwwwww!" she yelped, her legs kicking hard again. "Mummy, that’s horrible!" It didn’t burn like the hairbrush or ruler, but it stung more fiercely.

Sighing, Emma nodded. "I know it is, and that it’s different from what you got so far... be a brave girl for mummy now," and before Emmy could reply, she raised the slipper again and started whacking her backside repeatedly.

Emmy squealed and howled at the next three swats, squirming to try and get away, but then she went limp and sobbed onto Emma’s leg, unable to do anything else. Unfortunately for her, those swats weren’t the last, because though Emma decreased the force of the smacks, she kept it up till she had delivered a full dozen.

Emma was bawling and howling loudly by then, still holding tight to the pillow, "Mummy stop I be gooooooood!"

Normally Emma would have kept it up for at least two dozens, but seeing how red Emmy’s bottom was and how hard she was crying, she was moved to mercy and dropped the slipper, and instead gathered the crying child in her arms. "Shh it’s all over honey, come here."

Emmy nestled tight. "I sorry I bad mummy..." she sobbed out. "I love you!"

"It’s alright, you’re not bad and mummy loves you," she said before having thought about she was saying. This girl was not her daughter by any means, but is biology more important than love and behaviour? She really didn’t think so. "You’re a good girl, Em."

"Really?" she looked up with red little eyes, needing to hear the soft words. It didn’t matter that Emma had not given birth to her. What mattered was that she cared just like Alan did. Were there other ways to care besides turning her tush to a burning mess? Of course. But still, she didn’t care.

"Yes you are, I mean it," Emma repeated, giving her a warm smile and kissing her teary cheeks. "It took courage to actually confess what you did, you should be proud of yourself." She rocked her half-naked body gently as she spoke.

Emmy cuddled tight once again, and sighed contentedly. "Will you rub it?" she asked, almost begging for it actually.

The moment she said it, she could feel Emma’s hand on her red bummy. She rubbed thoroughly and delicately with both hands, kneading with her fingertips and relaxing the throbbing flesh in order to ease the sting down a bit. Emmy sighed again, contentedly this time, feeling very safe and loved. She was so lucky to have two adults who loved her. Emma kissed the top of her head and kept rubbing for several minutes, until Emmy’s crying was dying down.

"Thank you," the girl whispered shyly.

"You’re welcome, honey," and with that, Emma stood from the couch, carrying Emmy like she did with Gaia. She walked to the chair, already facing the corner and sat down, looking at the wall, then sat Emma on her lap, she too facing the wall, and kissed her ear. "How about we do this one corner time together, hmm?" she whispered.

Emmy went stiff as soon as she notices where she was, but nodded. "Hate it here" she whispered, remembering her first time all too well.

"I know, I don’t like it either," Emma whispered again. "But if you ask Gaia, she’ll tell you exactly how many penguins there are on that wallpaper," she said, pointing at the wall and smirking.

"I felt very scared last time," Emmy whispered, ignoring Emma’s attempt to make her more comfortable and still squirming on her sore little cheeks.

"When was that, sweetheart?" Emma asked, rubbing her tummy and resting her head on the girl’s neck.

"When daddy spanked me a long time ago... it felt like a long time. When my other parents came... oh well."

"That’s why he never gives you corner time, so?" Emma asked.

Emmy nodded. "I don’t feel good," she whispered, feeling a bad headache coming on. "Thanks for being here with me," she whispered. "I always feel like... well... crap when I am in the corner."

"I understand, sweetie," Emma said, even though she didn’t. Gaia had no trouble with it, but it was probably because she took it for granted. And Gaia didn’t have such a self-esteem problem, quite the contrary – she thought she was on top of the world. "Of course I’m here with you, and what are you feeling?" she said, feeling up her forehead.

"My head hurts," she rather whined. "I’m all worried."

"About telling your dad, is this what you mean?" Emma said, still keeping her close.

Emmy nodded. "I don’t wanna have to start all over with a new therapist. And what if he’s really mad? I don’t want to get spanked with the belt again!" she wailed, turning and burying her face in Emma’s shoulder.

"Aww," went Emma. She caressed the young girl’s hair and kissed her head, hearing her sobs, her own heart breaking. "I didn’t know he used the belt... I’m sorry. Is that when you lie? I can tell you’re scared, little one." Again she felt her forehead and saw her face was all flushed.

"We made a chart, so I would know what was coming, and I can’t remember what we put down for lying. He only used it once when I was really really stupid, but he might use it again ‘cuz I lied, ‘cuz I can’t remember the chart!" she sniffled, trying not to sob. She could feel a panic attack coming her way, but didn’t want to tell Emma that.

"I see, well," Emma said, trying to find the words. "I can’t say that I agree, but... honey, you see: you need to trust Alan. Your dad is a great person, and all he does is for your best. Don’t be so worried, he will understand you! And calm down now, you’re panicking, hey?" she said, taking her hands in hers and trying to be soothing.

"I didn’t mean to lie and be naughty" Emma hiccuped. "And now I’ve ruined our day!"

"I know, but you did not ruin it all," she added quickly, feeling the need to be condescending with the kid now. "Hey you’re all flushed and hot, come on, let’s go lie down for a bit, hmm?"

Emmy nodded and allowed Emma to scoot her over to the couch to lie down. "Mummy, I hate being stupid," she whispered, closing her eyes. "And I feel really icky, my head hurts like crazy."

"Oh Emmy cut off this nonsense, you know you’re not stupid," Emma said. She took off the girl’s khakis and panties, still bundled around her ankles, and covered her with a blanket, then kissed her face and felt her hot and burning. "You’re having a fever, Em, I bet you feel icky."

"I guess," Emmy said. "Sheila said I’m not, I just heard it a lot and think I am, but I’m really not, because I do good in school," she said slowly, remembering some of her therapy sessions.

"See?" Emma said, giving her a big smile and pecking her nose affectionately. "Sheila’s darn right, you know. But I don’t like the way you look... wait here, I’ll get a thermometer, okay honey?"

Emmy nodded, her eyes still closed. "I don’t like how I feel, so that’s a good combination," she gave a very nervous little giggle.

"Heh, I guess it is," said Emma, chuckling. "You’re still beautiful anyway." That had Emmy smile sweetly, while she walked to the bathroom and took the thermometer and a jar out of the cabinet above the sink, worried about her pretend-daughter... not so ‘pretend-’ anymore, after all.

She then made her way back to the living room and knelt aside the couch. "Turn around, cutie," she whispered sweetly.

Emmy popped an eye open. "Aww man, not you toooooo!" she whined.

"Me too what, exactly?" said Emma, giving her a funny look.

Emmy pointed to the glass thermometer. "That. Dad won’t use the digital ones, says they aren’t accurate." She rolled her eyes. "Okay, rolling eyes bad," she winced, reminding herself not to.

Emma couldn’t help but smile a little at that, but shook her head. "Silly, he’s right. But that’s not the reason why I’m using this. You see, Gaia hates the digital ones, so all we’ve got in the house is this," she said, giving a small shrug.

"Gaia hates the digital ones?" Emmy asked, confused.

"Oh yes, you know, those you put under your tongue or your armpit?" Emma explained. "Well, she said they taste ‘yucky’... whatever that means... and that they make her feel like she’s gonna throw up. And she doesn’t want to be tickled under her arm. Ironically, she doesn’t seem to have a trouble with this," she shrugged as she showed the longer, glass thermometer to Emmy.

The girl gave a little giggle. "Gaia is a funny little kid." Then she gave a resigned sigh. "How do you want me?" she asked.

"Aww," said Emma: Emmy’s admiration and protection towards Gaia was so sisterly and sweet that it always warmed her heart. "You’re a good kid too, honey. Just turn around and stick your bummy right up, is all. I’ll do the rest."

Emmy raised an eyebrow. That was much different then her dad’s method. But she nodded and laid on her stomach, poking her small bottom up. Emma nodded in approval when she promptly complied, then removed the blanket, exposing her still quite pink tush. Trying to be very delicate due to the soreness, she parted her little cheeks with two fingers of the left hand, and after dipping the thermometer into the jar of Vaseline she had got from the bathroom, she pointed it at her rear entrance.

"Just relax, honey, alright?"

"Yeah, right, that’s gotta be one of the stupidest things to say!"

"Well, you do that anyway," Emma said, (quite jokingly) putting on a stern tone, and giving a mild slap to her right bottom cheek, "or it’s going to hurt, baby."

Emmy yelped. "Ouch, mum, that HURT! And why is the thermometer gonna hurt?" That thought made her bottom quiver as the young girl grew nervous.

"I didn’t say it will hurt," Emma quickly corrected herself, sighing. "I said it will if you’re so tense and keep wiggling. You need to be still, you know that, right?"

Emmy nodded. "Dad always says that, but I never seem to stay still the whole time," she admitted. "I’m really wriggly."

Emma thought that through for a second, then decided that probably, in this frame, she needed a little firmness. "Well, sweetie, be still now, nonetheless, or I’m going to swat you again, okay? Keep still and don’t wriggle and let me put it in." She said all this while rubbing her back.

Emmy whimpered and nodded. "Yes mummy," she whispered. She truly did not want anymore spanks on her already well spanked tush! "I’ll try my best."

"That’s my good girl," Emma praised her, then turned her attention back to Emmy’s bottom, and again, after dipping the thermometer back into the jar, she parted her cheeks and placed the tool’s tip on her anus. "Now I’ll push very, very slowly... so it won’t hurt," she explained.

Emmy nodded, cuddling with a couch pillow. "Hurry, this waiting is killing me," she admitted.

"If I hurry... you’re not gonna like it... so stay put..." said Emma absent-mindedly, focusing on what she was doing. She slid the tool inside Emmy’s bottom slowly, until a full inch was inside.

Emmy let out as gasp as it entered and slid into place. "Oooooh, I hate this!" she whined.

"Why, Gaia never says that," Emma remarked, pushing the thermometer just a little deeper and then stopping. "There, it’s in. Now just be still for five minutes," and she glanced at the clock wall.

"As if I didn’t feel it was there," Emmy remarked more to herself then to Emma. Five minutes seemed like an eternity and it wasn’t long until she was wriggling to try and rid herself of the unpleasant feeling.

"Easy, Em," said Emma when, less than a couple of minutes of minutes later, she saw the girl squirm around on the couch, clearly not at ease. She placed a hand on her bottom, right on the sit-spot, hoping to make her understand she had to settle down.

Emmy winced, not that the soft touch hurt, but knowing it was a sign that she’d get a spank if she didn’t settle down. She managed to for a whole moment before her wriggles started again. "I’m sorry mum, I just don’t like it in there," she tried to explain. "It feels all funny."

Sighing, Emma really felt for the little girl, and in a way it hurt her too. She was a daughter to her more than she herself would admit. "It feels funny," she raised her hand and planted a quick smack to her lowest sit-spot, almost on the un-spanked thigh, "because you’re wriggling."

Emmy howled and jerked forward, trying to avoid anymore potential spanks. "Oooooooow!"

"Emmy!" Emma scolded. "Honey, if I have to keep you still by pressing on your back and legs you’re not going to like it, later," she said, implying further spanking and hoping she got that right.

Emmy nodded, and hung her head and really tried as hard as she could to stay still now. "Sorry, I don’t listen well," she sniffled.

"It’s alright, now be a good girl... that’s more like it," she nodded as the girl really was trying hard. "Just two minutes now," and she rubbed her back and bottom sweetly, hoping to relax her.

Emmy traced the outlined pattern of the pillow in front of her with her finger. "I hate being in trouble," Emmy told her. "I do try really hard to be good, but stuff always seems to happen. I guess that’s just part of like learning and stuff, huh?"

"You got that right honey," Emma nodded. "Sometimes things do get out of hand as much as you try to avoid that. Growing up means having more and more control on things, that’s all." She kept rubbing her delicately. "One minute... you’re being good, Em..."

"Thanks mum. I’m glad I have lots of people who love me now. You have no idea how good it feels!... Many take that for granted, but it was never granted for me, you know."

Emma sighed at that remark, and though she didn’t think Em’s parents were such monsters as she pictured them, the fact that she didn’t feel loved was bad enough. "Of course we love you, how is it possible not to love you, Emmy?"

Emmy shrugged. "I dunno," she blushed.

"Well now you know," she said, still massaging her sore behind. At long last, the five minutes were almost up. "Gonna take this out, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Alright." Emma took hold of the thermometer and pulled it out in one quick move, making Emmy wriggle as she did so: it always felt weird.

"Yeah, you’ve got a small fever," Emma said after checking the thermometer. "Nothing serious, though. You’re going to be alright, honey, but I want you to rest now."

"That’s good." Emmy yawned suddenly, but tried to hide it, looking sheepish.

Emma still did notice her yawning, and after another quick rub to her tush, she kissed her hair. "Does miss Rickman here want to take a good nap, hmm?"

"Maybe," she blushed. "Do you really want me to? I hate naps, make me feel like a dork."

"Not that I want you to, Emmy," Emma said, "but if you move that blanket aside and let me nap aside you, I’ll be, well... I’d like that, I mean..." she said, hesitantly.

Emmy smiled and nodded. "I’d love that too." She redressed – with a sniffle as her panties touched her spanked bottom, and leaving the khakis off – and moved the blanket aside. Emma nodded and smiled back, and lay on the couch aside the young girl, snuggling in against her and drawing the blanket over them both.

"You’re a good girl, Emmy."

"Thanks. And you’re a really good pretend mum." Emmy snuggled close, her bottom rather sticking out slightly to keep from rubbing against the couch.

"You’re welcome, cutie. I try to be."

"Sounds like you manage..." Emmy said, but she was asleep the second later.

click here for pictures of Emma and Alan