Chapter Eight

"Let's do it now?" Florence whispered to Nell.

Nell smirked. "No time like the present," she whispered back. "You and Bianca take Elena and Gabby to Bobby Lee's and my room, and we'll be with you in a few minutes."

"All right," Bianca smirked. She motioned for Elena and Gabby to follow her. "Come along, girls. We're going to get another surprise ready for Daddy."

"A surprise for Daddy?" Bobby Lee repeated. "Tell me what it is!"

"You'll find out in a few minutes, Robert," Florence smirked. "You know good things come to those who wait."

Bobby Lee rolled his eyes, but he knew not to question his mother when she was planning a surprise.

Behind him, Nell smirked. Soon, Bobby Lee would learn a lesson he wouldn't soon forget. She glanced over at James, who was sampling some of the food that was still out. He wouldn't suspect a thing either.

"What we do with Daddy and James?" Gabby asked in confusion as she sat on Nell's side of the bed.

"Pretty!" Elena giggled, spotting some of Nell's jewelry before Bianca smirked.

"Maybe we can use some of her jewelry, Elena Lydia," Bianca muttered with a mischievous smile.

"We can look through it in a minute, Love Bug," Nell smiled, "Don't you want to surprise Daddy first?"

"Yeah!" Elena jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

At that moment, they heard a knock on the door, followed by a voice. "Well, I've tried to figure out what that surprise is, but I don't have a clue! It looks like you've got me, Helen!"

"Oh, we've got you all right, Robert," Nell murmured. She raised her voice. "Come in!"

"Come in!" Elena and Gabby repeated before bursting into giggles.

Bianca and Florence gave them toys to keep them occupied as Nell couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, isn't this a wonderful surprise," Bobby Lee smiled as he came in. "All my favorite girls together in one spot!"

"Oh yes," Nell smiled. "Now, why don't you sit down and unwind, and we'll give you that surprise."

Bobby Lee sat down next to her, and Elena climbed up on his lap. "Love Bug, do you know what the surprise is?"

"I know what it is," Nell said as she motioned for everyone to surround Bobby Lee. "It's called 'Payback for What Daddy's Teaching the Girls!'"

"Payback?" Bobby Lee wondered in surprise. "What are you-"

"Oh your poor father. He would be disappointed with how you're acting!" Florence interrupted with the sound of mock weeping.

"Daddy? How's he on this?" Bobby Lee wondered, starting to become confused.

"He never called me names," Florence started, "He never made comments about loud noises at night..."

"He never called Florence a horrible snarling monster!" Bianca added.

"Girls, Daddy needs a human shield!" Bobby Lee shouted as he was pushed onto the bed.

"The girls can't help you now, Robert Lee Johnson!" Nell shouted. "Ladies, let's get him!"

"Go to James girls," Florence whispered, blowing Elena and Gabby a kiss.

Elena and Gabby nodded, seeing that the women had their daddy taken care of for the moment.

They paused, hearing their daddy laughing as he started fighting everyone. "Get Daddy?" Elena giggled.

"Get James first," Gabby reminded her.

"You call yourself a junior guard, Robert?" Nell teased him, "You can't even fight off a bunch of girls!"

"Hey there's three of you and only one of me!" Bobby Lee pouted before glancing at his daughters. "Where are you going Gab Gab?"

"Get James," Gabby answered with a smile. "He mean too."

"No be Jack Daddy!" Elena yelled before the girls had left to find James.

The girls found James in his room. "James come with us!" Elena called.

"Why?" James asked.

"Mommy gots surprise for you!" Gabby smiled.

"What is it?" James asked.

"It surprise!" Elena said as she and Gabby pulled James up and dragged him from the room.

"Where are you taking James?" Sofia asked, seeing them pass by her door.

"He needs to see Mommy," Gabby said as she and Elena pushed him.

Sofia shook her head softly making her way back to her room without another thought.

"James heavy!" Elena panted upon reaching Nell and Bobby Lee's room.

"Don't worry Elena, Mommy will get him," Gabby assured her with a smile.

"She will?" Elena asked with a giggle. "Good Mommy!"

"What's going on?" James asked. "What's Nell getting me?"

"You see soon!" Gabby smiled.

They came to Nell and Bobby Lee's room, and Elena called, "Mommy!"

"Bring him in, Love Bug!" Nell called.

The girls dragged the prince of Enchancia inside before Elena had ran into Nell's lap.

"Mommy is he bad?" Elena asked, stroking some of her mommy's hair.

"For helping take care of you, no," Nell paused, "For calling me all those names and saying all those mean things about monsters, you bet he is! Ladies! Next victim!"

James didn't have time to run before Florence and Bianca caught him and pinned him on the floor.

Florence smiled to herself when she heard James laughing under them; this reminded her of how she and Richard used to play with Bobby Lee when he was younger.

They were simpler, more happier times as she saw Elena and Gabby run towards them.

"We tick James too!" Gabby yelled, joining Bianca and Florence.

"Daddy?" Elena asked, looking at their mommy with big eyes.

"Yes you can get Daddy," Nell smirked, taking her in her arms.

"I wasn't doing any extra writing!" James protested, trying to push Gabby away.

"Maybe not, but you were making extra comments," Nell smirked, recalling that Roland and Miranda always had to "convince" James to take a break from writing every so often. She glared down at Bobby Lee. "Who's the horrible snarling monster now?"

"Still you!" Bobby Lee laughed under Florence, Nell, and Elena.

"Daddy be nice to Mommy!" Gabby shouted.

"I am so nice to Mommy!" Bobby Lee shouted back.

"No you not!" Elena shouted, flapping her hands excitedly.

"We thought we heard laughing," Miranda smirked with a smile.

"Can we join?" Roland asked, trying to hide his own smirk.

"Yes King!" Elena yelled, flapping her hands again.

She glanced up, seeing Zoe and Sandra's older brother stare at her.

"I was coming here to see what's going on but Elena flapping her hands like a bird is more interesting," he smirked, making Elena frown.

Before he could say another word, he saw Sandra come up to him. "Zeke! Mom told me to get you," she greeted him. "She told me she wants someone to hand candy out to the trick-or-treaters."

"Really?" Ezekiel asked, thinking that Sandra's timing was suspiciously perfect.

"If you don't believe me, go find her and ask her yourself," Sandra replied. "I'd hand out candy myself, but Mom and Dad know I'm taking Elena, Gabby, and everyone out for trick-or-treating."

Ezekiel sighed. He'd wanted to say something about Elena, but he knew that if that happened, he'd be in the stables for another month. "Okay," he muttered as he walked off.

"Are you okay, Elena?" Sandra asked, seeing her frown, but at the same time Elena brightened.

"Yes! You join us too?" Elena smiled from where she was with Florence and Bianca.

"Maybe later," Sandra couldn't help but smile at what was going on. She glanced over at James and Bobby Lee. "I know nothing about this, and I'm not getting involved. Bye, boys."

"SANDRA!" James and Bobby Lee yelled together as Miranda joined those around Bobby Lee and Roland loomed over James.

"Elena sad?" Gabby asked with a frown.

"A little," Elena muttered softly.

"It's all right, Elena; Sandra caught Ezekiel before he could do any real harm," Nell assured her. "Will you be okay for trick-or-treating tomorrow?"

"That's right," Miranda smiled. "We're all excited to see your pretty Princess Elena costume."

Elena smiled. In all the excitement, she'd almost forgotten about trick-or-treating. "Yeah!"

"Can we get off the floor now?" James asked with a smirk.

"I think I hurt a rib," Bobby Lee groaned, rolling his eyes playfully at his wife.

"Oh, in a hundred years you'll have forgotten all about it," Nell smirked as he and James sat up.

"Well, after this, shall we let you continue getting ready for trick-or-treating?" Roland asked, mussing James' hair.

"Treat!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands.

"Elena, no no. Don't do that," Nell gently scolded, swatting Elena's hands.

"Why?" Elena asked in confusion.

"You saw how Ezekiel acted when you did that," Nell reminded her. "It's lucky for you that Sandra distracted him."

"Why?" Elena asked.

"It seems to me that Ezekiel is like an older version of Jack," Bianca observed. "You and Helen Genevieve have told us quite a bit about this boy, and all the trouble he causes you. Sandra did tell us once that Ezekiel comments on everything."

"Bianca's right," Nell agreed. "if Ezekiel sees you flap your hands, you can be sure that he'll say something. James tried to stand up for you, but that almost led to trouble."

"I bad girl?" Elena asked.

"No, Love Bug, but you have to be careful around Ezekiel," Nell cautioned. "It's true that we haven't seen him much while we've been here, but you never know when he'll show up."

"Okay," Elena muttered, frowning slightly. "Can I bring Kitty?"

"Kitty for trick or treating?" Bobby Lee asked with a smirk.

"I think that's a charming idea," Bianca smiled. "After all, Princess Elena has jaquins. Kitty will be the perfect accessory for the costume."

"That is a good point," Nell smiled. "We'll keep Kitty in your treat bag, just so she doesn't get lost as we go from house to house."

"Okay!" Elena cheered.

"Trick or treat now?" Gabby asked, tugging on Nell's skirt.

"Sofia did the same thing when she was their age!" Miranda chuckled with a smile. "She just couldn't wait a day."

"Elena?" Elena asked, looking up at her mommy. "I wanna see her."

"We can show her how your costume looks," Florence agreed.

"All right, if you feel that strongly, but then we have to put the costume away so you'll have it ready for trick-or-treating," Nell decided.

"Okay!" Elena cheered.

"Let's get your bee costume ready. Okay Gab gab," Bobby Lee said, tossing her in the air.

"Buzz! Buzz!" Gabby giggled, clapping her hands.

"Alright you little bee, I'll be with your sister!" Nell chuckled, kissing her cheek.

She helped the girls into their costumes, and led the way to Princess Elena's room.

Princess Elena smiled when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it, looked down, and smiled. "Who put this mirror in my doorway?" she asked, seeing her namesake dressed exactly like her.

"What mirror? It me!" Elena giggled.

When she heard the little voice, Luisa came up and smiled. "Isn't that just the most precious thing? We have to get a picture of this!"

The two Elenas sat on the bed with Kitty between them as Bobby Lee took their pictures.

"You forgot your scepter didn't you?" Princess Elena asked with a smile.

"Mommy said I couldn't bring it with me," Elena frowned before snuggling close to her namesake.

"Well I only use mine if I really need it!" Princess Elena explained with a chuckle. "So in this case I agree with your mommy."

"Okay," Elena smiled. She didn't want anything to happen to her scepter after the magic lady fixed it. She was still a little angry at Madeline for what happened, but she knew Madeline would be in timeout for a few days, both here, and when they got home.

Suddenly, Isabel came up. She turned to Elena and asked, "Elena, do you think you could help me with my costume?"

"Over here, Isa," Princess Elena grinned.

Isabel grinned. "You can help too!"

"Isabel pretty butterfly!" Gabby smiled.

"Well, I was going for fairy princess, but I suppose it can be a butterfly too," Isabel smiled. She glanced at the two Elenas. "Now I wonder which one is my sister."

"The one that calls you Isa and has a more variety of words to say," Nell offered, playing along with Isabel's little game.

"Oh, that's right..." Isabel paused, and picked up the little girl. "You're my sister!"

"Isa!" Princess Elena laughed, mussing Isabel's hair.

"Isabel, don't tease your sister," Luisa smirked.

"Okay, abuela," Isabel smiled, setting Elena down and hugging her older sister.

"I know it's all in fun," Princess Elena smiled.

"We like fun," Nell smirked, taking her Elena in her arms.

"Fun! Fun!" Elena giggled, clapping her hands before she yawned.

"Someone's sleepy," Princess Elena said, giving Nell Kitty. "You get her changed Helen, and I will put her to bed for you."

"Thanks, Princess Elena," Nell smiled. "She really wanted you to see her costume."

"And she looks beautiful," Princess Elena smiled. "By the way, we couldn't help hearing your little fiesta earlier. Is everything all right?"

"We were just teaching James and Bobby Lee a lesson," Nell smirked over at Bobby Lee. "It wasn't anything bad."

"Anything bad?!" Bobby Lee pouted before bowing towards Princess Elena. "Princess, hopefully Avalor doesn't have a mind like my wife's in term of punishment for calling someone a monster."

"Not likely," Princess Elena smirked as Nell playfully rolled her eyes. "I looked in Helen's room earlier, and it looked like you were all having fun," Princess Elena smiled. "But I know what you're saying, Robert...have you heard my cousin Esteban at night? I'm always tempted to call the guards to defend the castle!"

"Elena, be nice to your cousin Esteban," Luisa smirked.

"I am so nice to my cousin Esteban!" Princess Elena grinned.

"Where have I heard that conversation before?" Nell grinned at Bobby Lee, who smirked in return, and Gabby, who was asleep beside Elena.

"Looks like their excitement got the better of them!" Sofia chuckled, seeing the girls asleep in Nell and Bobby lee's arms.

"Where have you been Sofia?" Princess Elena asked with a smile.

"Amber and I were helping Sabrina and Sandra with their Animal Guide tattoos," Sofia smiled. "We're going to paint a picture of Ambre on Sandra's arm, and a picture of Whatnaught on Sabrina's arm tomorrow, so they won't have to sleep in paint and the designs won't be ruined."

"That's a good idea," Miranda agreed.

"And I love the Animal Guide books!" Isabel smiled. "Any time I ride one of the jaquins, I pretend they're my partner."

"So that's why I always saw you drawing jaquins on your arms," Luisa smiled. "You've always been a talented artist."

Isabel blushed softly as Elena moved in her sleep.

"Look like someone wants to ride one now in her dreams!" Nell laughed, stroking Elena's hair.

"And she is," Princess Elena smiled, seeing Elena cuddle Kitty.

"With Gabby right beside her," Bobby Lee smiled as Gabby cuddled closer to him.

"We better get them out of their costumes," Miranda suggested with a smile. "And into their night clothes."

"Before Mother or Bianca have a fit!" Bobby Lee laughed before clearing his throat.

"And have them sleep through dinner?" Bianca asked with a sake of her head.

"Maybe we'll wake them up later," Nell smiled. "We'll put them in their pajamas, they can eat, and then they can go back to sleep."

"I remember my first wife and I did that with James and Amber sometimes when they were little and there were events at night that we took them to," Roland smiled. "They'd play all day, then they'd fall asleep. We'd wake them up, put them in their pajamas, and we'd all go out. They'd fall asleep on the way home, so we just put them straight to bed."

"I sometimes did that with Sofia," Miranda smiled.

"Robert and I did that with Ezekiel, Zoe, and Sandra," Patricia agreed as she and Sandra came up. "And Sandra, thank you for telling Ezekiel he had to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters!"

"No problem, Mom," Sandra smiled.

Elena started to stir in her sleep, looking to be nearly in tears as Nell gently shushed her, knowing what she was dreaming about.

Jack was sometimes part of her nightmares and as much as Nell hated to admit it, the little boy was nothing but a terror to her little girl.

"He's not here, Love Bug," Nell murmured, "You're safe. Jack can't bother you here, and Ezekiel won't be around when we're trick-or-treating either."

"I've got her," Princess Elena murmured. She started rocking Elena and softly singing, "This is my time, to honor my family and friends. My time, this is my time, once again." She smiled as Elena relaxed in her arms and fell asleep again.

"How's that phrase go again, music makes everything better?" James smiled.

"Yes it does," Princess Elena smiled.

Giving Elena back to her mother, the crown princess of Avalor walked out of the room with Nell and Bobby Lee, just in case her namesake needed it.

She had to admit that having an admirer that young and especially after being freed from the amulet for three years still shocked her but Princess Elena wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.