Title: Peas Are The Worst
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Rating: G
Length: 419
Content Notes: family fluff

Summary: There's a rule in the Sulu household - no veggies, no dessert. Demora hates this rule above all others.


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Demora was dying.

"I'm dying, Daddy," she moaned from her spot on the couch.

"You're not," Hikaru said, pulling the thermometer from her mouth. He glanced at the readout before setting it aside on the coffee table. "You barely even have a fever."

Demora huffed and collapsed dramatically across the couch, arms flung above her head. "But my tummy feels all yucky," she complained.

"Could be that second helping of pie you had tonight," Hikaru said, sliding from his perch on the table to kneel beside the couch. His warm hand settle across her belly, fingers gently tickling.

Demora squirmed away, watching Hikaru from beneath a curtain of hair. "No."

"No?" Hikaru asked, nudging Demora aside so he could climb onto the couch with her.

It was quiet in the living room. Sounds floated in from the kitchen, the clink of dishes in the sink, the splash of water. Ben whistled a low, soft tune as he puttered, sealing away their leftovers into individual containers.

"Must have been the peas," Demora decided, wiggling until she could lay her head on her father's shoulder. Hikaru's arm circled around Demora, pulling her close. "They tasted funny."

Hikaru chuckled. "No they didn't. They tasted like peas."

Demora shook her head. "Then I must be allergic," she said. "We shouldn't have them anymore."

Hikaru hummed. "Green beans, then?"

Demora wrinkled her nose.

"Brussels sprouts?" Hikaru suggested.

Demora frowned. "Now you just want me to be sick."

Hikaru laughed and ducked his head, pressing a quick kiss to Demora's forehead. "Not too sick for a bedtime story, are you?"

Demora lay still against Hikaru's side, thinking. After a moment, she replied, "Not too sick, I don't think."

"Good," Hikaru said, sitting up and pulling Demora with him. She groaned. "Go on upstairs and get ready. I'll be up after I help Papa."

"Help with what?" Ben grumbled, voice drifting in through the wide doorway. "I'm almost done."

"Uh-oh." Hikaru caught Demora's eye. "Looks like I'm in trouble," he murmured before calling back, "I was caring for your sick daughter."

Ben's head popped into the living room. "She's fine," he said after a moment. "Too much pie," he added, leveling a stern look at Demora.

Demora ducked her head, muttering, "No such thing."

"Come on," Hikaru said, tugging Demora to her feet and tossing a wink in Ben's direction. "Better get to bed before Papa puts you to work too."

"Okay," Demora said, shuffling off towards the staircase as Hikaru followed Ben into the kitchen.

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End.