Secret measures (Toby/Bea)

"Huh?... Bea? What's going on? Why are you in here?" 

Toby shot up as if someone had slapped him in the face... which was, for all intents and purposes, exactly what happened. Bea made a muffled 'eek' sound, putting both hands over her mouth as she overbalanced and sat on her butt on Toby's bed. She was wearing a long flannel nightgown that made her look as plump as her day clothes, so perched at Toby's side she mostly felt like a muffin. A very flustered, stammering muffin.

"I just... uh... It's nothing I was just..." she muttered quietly, hoping that at least other family members wouldn't come in to join the conversation. She poked at the measuring tape, trying to come up with something believable to say. She failed; Bea had never been very good at lying. She never had reason to learn.

She gave up with a sigh, wriggling the soft material of her nightgown between her hands.

"I was trying to... measure you. For... a thing."

(159 words)

"What 'thing, exactly, Bea? You should be in bed, anyway. It's late, or, quite early for that matter. Sleep should be what you're focusing on at the moment. I'm not mad, I just want to know why you're in my room in the middle of the night with a measuring tape..."
 
Bea's lower lip quivered. She knew it was not a big deal, waking up Toby like this; even if she had to tell him the truth, and ruin the surprise, he was the brother who knew how to keep a secret. And still, she felt flustered, and Toby's own confusion did not help much with calming her down. Bea did not like to be caught red-handed at anything, mostly because she never lied or did anything forbidden if she could help it, and being found out made her feel embarrassed enough to make her eyes tear up. She sniffled, rubbing the back of her fist over an eye.

Come on Bea, you can do better than this... You are not a little girl anymore. This is no big deal. And Toby said he is not mad. He is just... sleepy. And confused.

Still, she could not lie her way out of this now; she was too flustered, and bad at lying, and it would have come out as a horrible, jumbled mess anyway. Bea took a deep breath and sighed. 

"I was trying to measure you because I want to sew you something. I... I am learning to sew. It's my own time and I am not spending money on it... But don't tell Mom and Dad! I wanted it to be a surprise. But it's... measuring is very difficult..."

(230 words)

"It's okay, Bea, I understand. I'm sorry that it won't be a surprise for me any more, but hey, look at it this way; I can help you make sure its a surprise for everyone else. I won't tell them, and I can even help you measure if you want... It'll all be okay. Don't worry. You don't need to cry."
 
Bea sniffled once, but her tears soon dried up as Toby rubbed her back and then put an arm around her shoulders. She always felt safe next to her brothers, especially Toby who was the closest to her in age, and also the most attentive. She smiled softly, leaning her head on Toby's shoulder as she pulled her knees up and snuggled in for warmth. Bea cried easily from emotions, since she was sensitive in a lot of ways; but she also cheered up incredibly fast if the right person said the right things, and her smile came out bright like the sun after a quick summer shower.

Maybe it was for the better anyway. They would share a secret, a secret surprise for the rest of the family that they could plan together, and work on together. Bea liked to work with his brothers, but since they became adults they rarely ever had time to play with her, and boys didn't like shared secrets all that much anyway. She found herself excited about the prospect of having something only she and Toby knew about, and something that would make such a splendid surprise for Mom and Dad and the others. She tilted her head to smile up at Toby.

"That sounds good. I need to measure all of them and it would be easier if we did it together... it will take time to get everything ready and make things and I have to learn a lot, but I think it will be a really nice surprise... And maybe if you help me I'll let you pick what you want me to make, hm?" she giggled, full of hope and plans.

(282 words)

”Of course. I’ll help you out. Who would you like to start with?” 

Bea mulled over that question, pulling her knees up to her chin, and tucking her bare feet under her night gown. It was a tough choice that she did not have an answer to. Originally, obviously, she planned on making something for Toby first, since they were the closest, and she knew that he would be happy with his surprise even if it turned out to be about as fashionable as a potato bag. But now that he discovered her secret, and became her partner in crime, Bea was at a loss of whom she should pick next. Since she had enlisted Toby's help... or rather, he offered... they might as well work on something more ambitious.
Bea tapped her nose with a finger, thinking for a moment, and then smiled up at her brother.

"I think we should measure Dad. You work with him... and spend more time with him. Do you think you could find a way to do it?..."