There was an alarming amount of noise coming from Cass' room. Dick didn't think he'd ever heard her snore at all, let alone this loudly. His hopes of getting her up, awake, fed and out before the new butleress started asking awkward questions. He raised the blinds on the window with one hand, holding a hot mug in the other. "Cass. Cassie. Cassandra." He held the hot chocolate nearby, hoping she could smell the warm sweet vapor of her favorite drink.
She was out. She truly did need sleep. It was almost noon, however, and oversleeping was only going to make things worse for the poor girl. Setting the hot chocolate down on the windowsill, Dick sat on the edge of the bed, shaking her shoulder slightly. "Would it help if I said the pancakes had chocolate chips in them, and whipped cream, three kinds of syrup and cinnamon butter?"
The girl had a sweet tooth, but it didn't wake her. "I suppose not."
Dick scooped his arms under her and lifted her up, carefully rolling her in his arms until she was facing upward, and then set her down so she was angled up against the pillows. Then he grabbed the mug and carefully held it under her nose. "Hot chocolate, kid. Come on. Don't make me resort to extreme measures."