"Come on kitty! You go in next!" Elena shouted, trying to stash away her favorite toy in a bag of clothes and packages of food.
"Kitty can't come, Elena," Gabby explained with a soft smile before seeing Elena's lip quiver. "I'm sorry, Elena, but Mommy may need him."
Elena shook her head. "Gabby, after today Mommy won't be Mommy no more. No hugs at night-night time, no nothing! She'll just be a wife!"
"But we get a new daddy," Gabby tried to comfort her.
Elena managed a smile. She knew Bobby Lee was a lot nicer than Jimmy. She didn't remember much about the man who had kidnapped her when she was born, but she knew Bobby Lee had rescued her, and Nell told her about how she, Sabrina, and Madeline escaped after Jimmy had kidnapped them.
Their thoughts were interrupted when Nell came out to them. "Ready, girls? Today's the big day!" She tried to hug Elena, but the little girl backed away. "Elena, I know what you're thinking, and let me just stop you right there. Yes, it's true that Bobby Lee and I are getting married, but that won't change anything between the three of us. I'm always going to be your mama, and we'll still do the things we've always done: hugs at bedtime, songs and stories, all of it! We might even let Bobby Lee tell you some new stories that you'll like as much as mine!" Gabby smiled at the idea, but Elena looked doubtful. "Just give it a chance. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see," Nell promised.
"Okay, Mama," Elena said at last, and she followed her mother and sister inside. But Elena couldn't be fine. She just wanted it to be her, Gabby, and Nell like it always was.
"Elena what are you doing?" Gabby asked with a gasp.
"Running away. I'll see you across the street or somewhere. Don't know too good," Elena muttered but she knew her autism and what it was trying to say.
It told her to run and never come back.
"Elena, wait!" Gabby yelled, catching up to her sister.
"What?" Elena asked before seeing her sister stop in her tracks. "Gabby?"
Elena had only gone a few feet when she heard a sound coming from a nearby bush. She looked down and saw a small white kitten. "Kitty!"
Gabby came up to her. "What's that, Elena?"
Elena gently picked up the animal that had emerged from the bush. "Kitty!"
"You found a kitty! Does this mean you won't run away now?" Gabby asked, hopeful.
"I can't run away now!" Elena declared. "Snow White kitty needs me!"
Gabby smiled. Snow White was a fitting name for the kitten, because of its white fur. Snow White was also a favorite princess of her and Elena's. It was also nice that Elena had decided to stay and take care of it. "Let's take Snow White inside," Gabby suggested.
"Yeah!" Elena cheered, and the girls and their new friend walked back to the castle.
"There you girls are!" Nell chuckled as Snow White made a sound. "Elena, I know that you love animals, but it's not time for you to be a kitty."
"No, Mommy, we found a kitty outside!" Gabby explained with a giggle.
"What do you mean no time for kitties? It's always time for kitties!" Elena giggled as she carried Snow White toward the castle.
Nell smiled. Elena loved all animals, and she knew that kitties were no exception. However, she also knew it was almost time for her and Bobby Lee to get married. She didn't want to be late for her own wedding! "Maybe so, sweetie, but for now, let's take your little friend to the stables. After the wedding, we'll decide on what to do with her."
Elena frowned at the idea but obeyed, not wanting to cause a meltdown on her mother's wedding.
===
"Robert Lee Johnson, do you take Helen Genevieve O'Malley to be your lawful wedded wife? To cherish and hold until death do you part?" Roland asked, being the priest for the wedding and the one to give Nell away as Elena and Gabby looked confused.
They had been good flower girls though standing for so long while hearing the names Helen and Robert confused them both.
Elena and Gabby ended up having fun, despite what they'd thought earlier. Bobby Lee even danced with them after he and Nell had their first dance as husband and wife. After the wedding, where he gave them each a second piece of cake for being such sweet little flower girls, they settled into their beds. Nell was worried at first, since the girls might be too high on sugar after so much cake, but she didn't have to worry; Elena and Gabby had danced the night away with everyone, and gotten it out of their systems fairly quickly. As they settled into their beds, Bobby Lee picked up a book and started reading one of their favorite fairy tales. Even Elena liked hearing her new daddy's voice as he told them a story. However, as Gabby paid close attention, Elena was only half listening. Her mind wandered back to the kitty she had found. She didn't want to be separated from Snow White anymore.
The next morning, Elena went to the stables and found Snow White playing in the straw. "Morning, Snow White!" she smiled as she stroked her, "I take you inside so you're not cold here." She gathered the kitten up in her arms.
Snow White purred into Elena's arms as the little girl bowed, seeing her new daddy practice early with another young man.
She knew that he had his guard work to do but Elena wondered if he could help her.
"Mr. Bobby Lee! Mr. Bobby Lee!" Elena yelled, carefully running up to him.
"Elena, honey, we agreed to you calling me Daddy now," Bobby Lee reminded her with a small laugh.
"Sorry, Daddy," Elena said softly.
"Don't worry, sweetheart; I know it's going to take some getting used to," Bobby Lee smiled. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Can I help you guard?" Elena asked.
"That's okay, honey; I've got everything under control here," Bobby Lee smiled. He noticed the kitten in Elena's arms. "Why don't you take your little friend and go play somewhere? I'll be with you as soon as I'm done here."
"Okay! Let's go, Snow White!" Elena cheered.
"Have fun, you two," Bobby Lee waved after them.
When they were near the castle, Snow White started to meow, making Elena confused.
What could a kitty like her have? Furthermore, what could a kitty eat?
Elena tiptoed into the kitchen with Snow White, being careful not to let anyone see her. Fortunately, the people she saw were all too busy to notice her. She got a little cup of milk and set it on the floor in front of the little kitten. She smiled as Snow White lapped it up. When she was finished, Snow White purred and rubbed against her. Elena looked around, and she found a bowl of cut-up chicken, which was probably going to be used for dinner. She took a few small pieces and offered them to her new friend. To her delight, the kitten gobbled them up. When she was done eating, Snow White opened her tiny jaws in an enormous yawn.
"You need a nap?" Elena asked. She smiled as Snow White rubbed against her. "Okay, let's go to my room and we'll take a nap."
Elena managed to smuggle Snow White to her room, and she curled up on her bed with the kitten close to her. "Night-night, Snow White," Elena whispered as Snow White curled up in a ball and fell asleep.