"You're thinking of doing WHAT!?"
Lightning McQueen looked across the kitchen table at his mother, eyes widening.
"I'm thinking of adopting a baby." Gabriella said as she reached across the table, grabbing one of the containers of Chinese take out they were eating. "Maybe a little girl."
The teenager leaned back, humming in thought. He had always wanted a sibling but he didn't expect something like this.
Could be fun though. Showing a little sibling how to speed and stuff.
"Are… you against that idea?"
"Huh? No! No! Not at all!" He said, shaking his head quickly. "Just… Surprisin'."
His mother smiled, giving a bit of a shrug. "Well… I figure it gets too quiet around here and I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time. I just didn't want you to think I was replacing you. I worry."
Lightning frowned a bit and got up, hugging her. "I know you'd never replace me. I love you, Mom."
She hugged him back. "Love you too, my little Lightning bug."
He smiled and kissed her cheek before blinking, looking at the food. "... HEY! You ate all the dim sum!"
"I wasn't supposed to?"
"MOM!"
oooooo
It took some time before Gabriella was able to visit the orphanage to meet with the children. Lightning came along, looking around.
There was kids running around, staff members trying to keep them from doing something to hurt themselves. Mechanids, huminids, it was a mixed bag.
"Right this way. The nursery is here. Is there any preference?"
"A little girl if at all possible."
He looked up as they were lead into a room with several cribs. Some were empty, some weren't. He looked into each one.
"We actually have one little girl but…" The orphanage employee was cut off as one of the babies started crying loudly. "... That would be her."
Gabriella's gaze softened as she made her way over, her son following. Laying in the crib they were looking into was a baby girl of about six months with dark skin and deep brown hair. She had her hands balled into tiny little fists as she screamed. "She's sick right now but she's usually a happy little one."
Good thing Mom's a doctor. Lightning thought as Gabriella picked up the infant, rocking her, bouncing her a little.
She quieted but only started to cry again a moment later. "Shh, shh it's okay. You're okay."
"Hey, can I try?" He asked, holding his arms out. Gabriella smiled before placing the infant into her son's arms.
"Mind her head."
She was still crying when Gabriella had held her but instantly went silent when she was in Lightning's arms.
He cradled her, rocking her gently. "Shh…"
"Bah." She coughed a little, curling up, grabbing onto his shirt.
Gabriella put an arm around her son, looking at the baby. "She's beautiful."
"Small too." He chuckled. "Cute though. What's her name?"
"Well, we've been calling her Lilly."
Both mother and son cringed a bit. "Eh… She doesn't look like a Lilly..." Lightning commented, holding her closer.
"I think she looks more like she needs a new name." Gabriella said, looking at "Lilly", the baby girl looking at the doctor with large deep blue eyes. "Beautiful eye.…" She stroked her hair a little as the infant nuzzled her hand.
"Can I name her? I-I mean, we're keeping her right?" Lightning asked, looking at his mother hopefully. She smiled.
"Yes."
"I'll get the paperwork ready. What will her new name be?"
Lightning hummed in thought as he looked at his new little sister.
We could name her after Grandma Karen… Nah, she's not crazy as far as we know.
Lessee… We got Lightning. Gabriella.
He grinned as a name came to him.
"What'd you pick?" Gabriella asked, knowing her son.
Lightning smiled, kissing his sister's head. "Maya. Maya Ari Mc'Queen."
"Maya." Gabriella echoed, smiling softly. "Perfect."
Maya giggled a bit, nuzzling her new brother, yawning a little. "Baaah."
Lightning nuzzled her, rocking her a bit.
Gabriella smiled, taking a quick picture with her camera.
It was a sweet sight. Her son holding his new little sister close, looking at her with what could only be described as love.
Soon enough, they had her home and settled down.
Maya got over the illness she had relatively quickly. She loved her mother and her mother loved her. But the person she had a truly special bond with was Lightning. He would get up at night if she was crying and rock her, singing to her sometimes.
My little sister. He thought one night, sitting in the rocking chair in her room holding her close. She was trying to stay awake, her large eyes half lidded as she looked up at Lightning. "Bah."
"Shh…" Lightning stroked her back, trying to get her to settle down. Gabriella was at work, emergency call. It was his responsibility to take care of her right now. "I got you."
"... Wightnin'..."
His eyes widened. "Maya… Say it again." He coaxed, grinning.
"Wightnin'!" She giggled.
Lightning laughed, kissing her head. "Oh Maya." He quickly wiped away a stray tear. "Love you so much."
She nuzzled him, letting out a yawn. "Wightnin'."
Lightning rocked her, humming a bit. "I saw my sister, crying hard as Maya could cry. What could I do? My sister's love had gone and left my sister blue. Nobody knew. What kind of magic spell to use!" It was an old song from a movie he loved since he was a kid. He changed the words up when it came to his sister.
"Slime and snails or puppy dog tails." He lowered his voice. "Thunder or Lightning, and Maya said… Dance magic, dance magic dance, dance magic dance!" He got up, swaying as he rocked her.
Maya yawned, curling up in his arms, closing her eyes. "Put that baby's spell on me! Jump Magic jump, jump magic jump, put that magic jump on me, rock that baby make 'er sleepy."
He kept singing, gradually lowering his voice as he swayed, keeping her close. Eventually, her eyes slid shut as she drifted off.
"Dance magic, dance, magic dance… Put that baby's spell on me." He whispered, stopping to listening. He could hear her breathing deeply. She was completely out.
Lightning smiled softly, kissing her head and laying her in her crib. "Goodnight." He tucked her in, setting a stuffed red racecar next to her.
Maya grabbed it in her sleep, hugging it. "Wightnin'." She mumbled.
Oh my little sister.