Growing Pains I Guess - Tumblr Posts

Daddy Vessel to the Rescue

It has been two months since Vessel and the boys had came home for a brief break of the Teeth of God tour. And you were soaking up the time with him, and Emma was practically glued to his hip when you weren’t. She was thirteen now and in all her teenage glory, no matter if her father figure was part of a popular group, and even if you weren’t that uncool of a mother, she was in that state where being caught anywhere with her parents would being her downfall. You and Vessel were “uncool” and “embarrassing” and whatever else her teenage brain could come up with. She didn’t even call him Vessie anymore and just settled on shortening it to Vess like you did, saying the endearment was too babyish to be coming out of her mouth now.

Although, when he is home she keeps a six foot stick between the two of them, but the moment he came back through the front door after being away for months in a whole other country, Emma beat you to him. And before Vessel could even take his shoes off or his jacket or anything, Emma had leaped into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck while Vessel wrapped his tone arms around her, holding her to him. And in that moment Emma was not a teenager that thought her parents were embarrassing, oh no, you only saw her as that little girl she was that followed Vessel around like a little shadow, and the little girl that looked up at him like he hung the moon and stars—like how Vessel still looked at her after all these past eleven years.

Emma did not hang on him like she would have when she was younger, but she was always close and wanting to be near him. If Vessel was sitting on the couch to watch television or play on his PlayStation, Emma would be right beside him. If Vessel was in the kitchen either washing dishes or cooking, Emma was there being his little helper. They both talked and Vessel got to catch up on everything going on in her little world, and you couldn’t help but giggle at how Vessel bristled up when Emma mentioned how Malachi had walked her home the other day. Now, there was nothing wrong with the little puppy love blossoming between the two teens, but you were sure what got the reaction from your boyfriend was when Emma mentioned how they held hands all the way to the house and how Malachi kissed her cheek before bidding her goodbye, making his way down the street towards his house.

Now though, everything seemed to have went back to normal. Emma was now used to Vessel being back home and she was back to whatever regular teenage programming she was on. Although, you have noticed she had been slightly more moody for the past few days, and it made you wonder was it about to make an appearance. You were so glad you had already talked to your daughter about what to expect to begin to happen to her body now that she was of age, and in a way you were so thankful she was not an early bloomer in that area. Yet, you would have been even more thankful if she was a late bloomer in the development of her body, and hate to admit how much your baby was growing up.

And Vessel himself seems like he did not want you to be clinging to him. He had to explain and that is why you were now in town with your best friend Claudia and your sister Seraphina, having lunch and spending a well deserved girls day. Vessel wanted you to have a day for yourself where you weren’t caring for anyone but yourself, knowing you took on everything while he was away. Emma opted out and just decided she would entertain her own self with her reading and Netflix—not her first plan but Malachi was sick and her girl best friend Adeline was out of town for the week. Apparently also being caught with your mother and your aunts were a no go for her.

Vessel was sitting in the living room on the couch, slouched with his headset on as he played on his PlayStation. He had attempted to see if Emma wanted to eat some popcorn and watch a movie, but she staid hidden behind the bathroom door in the hallway, relying that she was about to shower and maybe they would later. Unbeknownst to him a storm was brewing behind that door.

A sudden noise that was muffled by his headset caused him to pause the game, somewhat thanking it since he was getting his ass kicked by the boss of this level. He raised one of the earmuffs to listen closely.

“Vessel, can you hear me?!”

Emma.

“Yes, yes I can hear you, Bug,” Vessel responded immediately while removing his headset and placing them on the couch. Emma had mentioned she really needed him to find her another nickname, deeming it didn’t suit her anymore since she wasn’t a baby, but Vessel was adamant on continuing to call her by his endearment for her. He noticed there was a certain urgency behind the way her voice was annoyed, probably from how many times she had tried to call for him but he had his ears covered. “I had my headset on, I’m sorry. What do you need, love?”

There was a moment of silence and Vessel raised an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to call out to his daughter once more but he cut him off before he could even utter another word.

“When is mom getting home? I need her.”

“What’s wrong?” Vessel asked, his voice laced with worry. Emma had grown to be independent and the mention of needing either one of you, with a voice laced with urgent concern as hers was right now, made every alarm go off inside of Vessel. He was bounding up the stairs in a matter of minutes.

“Oh, Vess, no no no no…” Emma closed the door before Vessel could get to her. Vessel knocked on the door.

“Emma, come on, open the door.” Vessel reached for the knob, and his brows furrowed when he went to turn it only to find that Emma had locked it. Vessel knocked on the door once more. “Emma.”

“I…” Vessel could hear Emma sigh heavily from the door. She continued, “I just really need mama for this.”

“Bug, you can tell me,” Vessel spoke softly, “what’s going on? Did something happen?”

“I…”

A pause.

“I…”

And another before Vessel heard Emma sigh again and sound as if she muttered a silent ‘shit’. He went to address the curse, yet did not get a chance to do so, because the next words that came from his little girl’s mouth left him utter speechless.

“I started my period.”

Vessel said nothing for a few minutes, not sure on how to respond before clearing his throat.

“W-what?”

“My period,” Emma replied voice mumbled. Vessel could only assume she had her face covered by her hands. “I started my period, Vessel.”

Vessel’s voice was still soft as he spoke. “How can I help, Bug?”

“Please call mama…”

“Okay, baby girl, I’m calling her.”

Vessel reached into the pocket of his basket ball shorts and pulled his phone out, calling you immediately and placing the device to his ear. He could feel his shoulders slump as he heard the voicemail. He knew you would not screen his calls and could only deduce that your phone must have died at some point while you were out.

He mentally kicked his own ass when he remembered he has no fuuuucking idea what Claudia’s or Seraphina’s numbers were.

“I think her phone is dead, baby,” Vessel called to Emma from the other side of the door.

“Could…could you maybe call Auntie Dia or Auntie Sera? They’re both with her.”

“I would, Bug, but I don’t have their numbers.” Vessel could hear the biggest groan come from Emma. And then an idea popped into his head. “Just sit tight, baby, Vessie knows who to call. Why don’t you go ahead and take your shower and clean up a little bit, yeah? That may help you feel a little better.”

“I can’t…”

Vessel raised an eyebrow. “Why not?” He asked.

“There isn’t any pads in here…”

Vessel nodded, knowing she could not see him. He searched his contacts until he found IV’s number and called, placing the device to his ear as it rung. He could only hope the bastard picked up. And he thank whatever forces above when the motherfucker did.

“Hey, man, what’s up?” IV answered, his voice gruff from the smoke Vessel could hear being blown out of his mouth.

“Viola there by any chance?”

Viola Richardson, IV’s long term girlfriend, and best friend to all of their little group, and most importantly at the moment, the one person who is going to be his saving grace.

“Yeah?” IV responded, his voice questioning as Vessel knew he was raising an eyebrow. “Something going on?”

“Um…” Vessel looked at the bathroom door and walked away from it a bit, standing near the stairs and lowering his voice. The last thing he wanted was for Emma to be more embarrassed than what she more than likely already was. “It’s Emma.”

“Em? What’s wrong with Emmie?”

Vessel had to reassure his friend and bandmate at the urgency and worry in his voice. “Okay,” IV went on, “not that I have anything against you talking to Vi, but what does Emma have to do with it?”

“She started her period…” Vessel mumbled, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. It was not as if the mere thought of menstruation was getting to him—he was pretty used to it. From his mother, to his countless of female cousins, his aunts, the girlfriends he had before getting with you, and of course he had been around while you were in the middle of your cycle.

But this was Emma.

His sweet Bug. His precious little girl that he is now having to come to terms with that she isn’t so little anymore. And he is also coming to terms that her growing up freaks him out more than he would have thought.

“She what? Vess, you gotta speak up.”

Vessel sighed, “Emma started her period. There aren’t any pads in the bathroom she’s in, and Y/N is out with Claudia and Seraphina.” It was as if Vessel could hear the next question that was about to come from IV’s mouth. Before IV could speak, could even get the question out, Vessel spoke up. “And I know what you’re about to ask, I already tried calling and her phone is dead. I am also an idiot and still can’t remember her cousin’s or her sister’s phone numbers. IV, please, just get Vi on the phone, man.”

IV said nothing and Vessel could hear the muffled voice of his friend calling out to his girlfriend. There was a shuffling sound as IV more than likely handed his phone to Viola.

“Vessel, hey, what’s going on?” Viola’s voice came on the other end next. Her thick Irish accent was a comfort to him, and Vessel let out a sigh. “IV said it had something to do with Emmie? What’s wrong with our girl? Did that Malachi lad break her heart? I’ll take care of him, you know. I know his ma.”

“No, no, it wasn’t…him,” Vessel confirmed. Mentally rolling his eyes at how he just couldn’t say the kid’s name. He has known him for years due to him and Emma being best friends. He cleared his throat, “I already explained to IV about me trying to get a hold of my child’s mother, her phone being dead, I have no clue what the phone numbers of the two she’s with, and Emma started her period and there isn’t anything here for her. Like pads or…or…or that medicine you guys take for your cramps, because I know for a fact she’s probably having some.”

He knew he was probably speaking a word a minute. But being a first time dad now of a teenager and said teenager was having her first cycle, while he was freaking out while she was freaking out, trying to stay calm was pretty hard. And Vessel prided himself on being a pretty down to earth guy.

“Okay, Vess, slow down,” Viola spoke, “just take a deep breath for me, yeah?” And he did. He inhaled and exhaled. Viola hummed in approval. “There we go. In and out. Feel a little calmed down now?”

“A little,” Vessel admitted.

“Good.” Vessel could hear the smile in Viola’s voice. “Now, I will run to the store right fast for you and get what you need for Emmie, Vess. And I’m sure Y/N has a bottle of our cramp medicine—it’s called Midol. I’d check the medicine cabinet in your bathroom. I’ll be right there.”

“Okay, okay.” Vessel nodded. “And thank you, Vi. I owe you big time.”

Vessel and Viola hung up, and Vessel informed Emma help was on the way. Once again, he had tried to convince her on taking a shower, and again she wanted to wait until she had what she needed.

After a while a knock came from the front door downstairs. Vessel made his way towards it, taking two steps at a time, and opened the door, revealing Viola. A bag in her hand from the pharmacy.

“Okay, I believe I got everything right here,” Viola comments with a smile. She handed Vessel the bag. “Got her some pads, an extra bottle of Midol to keep in her bathroom and some chocolate. Every girl needs to have some sweets during this moment.”

Vessel opened the bag and looked at the contents inside. He then looked back at Viola. “Thank you again, Vi. I appreciate this so fucking much.”

“Anytime, Vess,” Viola replied. She placed a hand in her hip. “And you’re doing great.”

“What?”

“You’re doing great with this. Her getting her first period while you’re here by yourself with her. Trust me. My dad almost had a whole panic attack the moment I got my first period around him. And I had white pants on. So I’ll leave that imagination up to you on how that day went for both me and him.”

“I feel like Y/N would have handled this a bit better,” Vessel admitted.

Viola laughed. “Oh, yeah, most definitely she would. But that’s only because she goes through this, too. You are doing great though, Vess.”

With a thanks and a hug goodbye, Viola went back to her car and Vessel shut the door behind him. He placed the chocolate in the fridge to keep them chilled while he grabbed a water bottle, taking the box of pads and small bottle of Midol back up the stairs.

“Bug, I’m back,” Vessel announced while knocking on the bathroom door, “I had Viola grab some things for me. I also got you a water bottle and some Midol to take.”

Vessel heard the latch of the lock click and stepped back a bit as Emma cracked open the door enough to pick her head through. Her eyes were puffy, no doubt from tears of feeling embarrassed, and it broke Vessel’s heart. He decided to not act on it and gave Emma a comforting smile.

“Here you go, Bug.” Vessel handed the water bottle to her. Emma took it in her hands and watched as Vessel placed the pack of pads on the floor, freeing a hand so he could open the tiny bottle of Midol. He shook two in his palm before handing them to her also. “Take those, okay. It’ll help with your cramps and put the bottle in your medicine cabinet.”

Emma shook her head before putting the tablets in her mouth and taking a swig of the water bottle, downing them. Her face scrunched up and Vessel couldn’t help but chuckle. Emma always hated taking pills of any kind. He couldn’t really blame her though.

Vessel reached down and picked the pads up as Emma handed him the water bottle. Emma looked down at the pads in her hand and chewed on her bottom lip.

“Do you need me to call Vi back, Emma?” Vessel asked. “Or did mama explain how to…work those?”

Emma giggled a little at Vessel’s words. She nodded her head. “Mama showed me.”

“Okay, good. I’m gonna go back downstairs and you go ahead and take a shower. Just put your dirty clothes in the hamper like normal.”

“But there’s—”

“It’ll be okay, Bug, I promise.”

Emma said nothing but nodded, she stepped back into the bathroom and closed the door. Vessel stood there for a few seconds more before he heard the shower turn on, deciding to use that as his cue to head back downstairs.

As he reached the bottom step and entered the kitchen to throw the water bottle away, the front door opened. He looked up to see it was you walking through, removing her shoes by the door and setting them on the bench in the walkway. A smile spread on your face seeing him.

“Hey, handsome,” You greeted as you walked over to him and wrapped your arms around his waist. Vessel instinctively wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer to him. He kissed the top of your head. You looked around to see if you could see your daughter anywhere. “Where’s Emma?”

“She’s taking a shower,” Vessel answered. He rubbed circles on your back. “I tried calling you earlier.”

“I know, I’m so sorry. I saw where you were calling me and the minute I went to answer my phone died.” Vessel saw a guilty look go on your face. You went on, “Claudia offered to let me use her phone and then come to find out…I still am not good at remembering your number. That’s horrible, right?”

Vessel chuckled. “No, that just makes you human.”

“What did you need earlier? Just miss me?”

“I always miss you.” Vessel pulled away from you just enough to kiss your lips softly. He stepped back from you and tucked a loose piece of hair behind your ears. “But we have a situation while you were away.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What kind of situation?”

“Emma started her period.”

Your mouth gapped open ever so slightly at him saying that. You have had your suspicions for a while, given to how moody and snippy Emma had been, but you had hoped that it would at least happen when you were there. And not… Well, poor Vessel.

You knew he already had a hard time accepting that she was growing up, and you knew for a fact this probably sent him over the edge. Although you did hope he kept his shit together to just remain calm for her.

“And there wasn’t any pads in her bathroom. I thought about going to ours and getting your tampons, but I figured that was maybe something not great for her first period.”

“It really depends on the person,” You commented, “but for yours and her sake, Vess, it was good you didn’t get the tampons.”

“I had Viola help out,” Vessel admitted, “she went to the store for me and got Emma some pads, some of that Midol stuff and some chocolate. I could have went and got them but I didn’t want to leave Emma at the house by herself, and I very much did not think she would like going anywhere like…that.”

“You thought right. There’s nothing worse than having your first period and then having to go out somewhere, when you know you have it coming down.”

You and Vessie talked a bit more about the situation and you sent a quick text to Viola, thanking her for her help today. And after a while the both of you stood together in the kitchen, both chopping vegetables to put in the stew for the night, when Emma came into the kitchen. Her hair was wet from her shower and she wore pajamas—loose fitting tank top and some baggy fleece pants. In her arms was her tower and with how bulky it was, it did not take you and Vessel long to realize it was her clothes she was previously wearing.

You walked over with her to the washer, talking to her about what had happened, wanting to know how she felt. Emma let you know she was fine and you smiled, bringing her into a hug and kissing the top of her head.

Emma began to walk out of the kitchen when she stopped at the threshold and looked over at Vessel, who was still helping prepare dinner. And in a blink, Emma was wrapping her arms around his waist. Vessel placed the knife down on the chopping board and turned his body in her arms so he could wrap his arms comfortably around her, and Emma pressed her forehead to his chest. You watched on from your spot at the washer and dryer.

“Thank you,” Emma said softly. You saw her arms tighten around Vessel. “I love you, Vessie.”

In a sense, Vessel did not do much like he felt like he should have. He felt like he should have done more, but you reassured him that he did what he needed to do for her. And that was he was there for her, made sure she got whatever she needed, and allowed her the space she needed to wrap her head around a big change to her body. You could also give him a gold star for not freaking out, like I knew for a fact he was doing on the inside and refused to show on the outside. Because you knew one thing that if he started freaking out, so would Emma.

Vessel smiled and wrapped his arms tighter around her, resting his chin on the top of her head and rocking them back and forth slightly. He rubbed her back in small circles.

“And I love you, too, my sweet Bug.”

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A/N: Not the best but I wanted to write another fic for my whole Daddy Vessel post I made a few days ago. But anyways, I hope you guys have an awesome day!