Thirty seven: Ricky for an hour
Plot: Elena doesn't like how fast Ricky is growing up as his first birthday approaches, wanting him to be the baby that he used to be. Yet after getting zapped by a youth spell, she understands that Ricky has to grow up eventually.
"Playing follow the kitty again Ricky?" Gabby asked with a smile, watching as Ricky crawled after Snow White.
Elena pouted, crossing her arms as she watched Ricky crawl. She knew that he would be one soon and knew that her mommy and daddy were the most excited for it but she wasn't.
She didn't like how she couldn't hold him anymore without him squirming or how Kitty was always roughly grabbed by him.
"Ricky, Kitty doesn't like being grabbed!" she scolded. "Zoomer likes it, but not his sister!"
Ricky squealed at the mention of his own kitty, and Gabby handed the stuffed jaquin over to him.
"And you got to be nice to Snow White!" Elena added. "She's a nice kitty!"
Ricky cooed as he reached for Snow White, and he giggled as Elena's kitty sniffed him.
"He's good Mommy," Snow White purred as Ricky crawled over to her. "He's nice."
"He used to be nice," Elena frowned. "Now Ricky's getting too big."
"Too big?" Nell smirked, watching the three of them. "Elena, he hasn't even started walking and talking yet."
"I wanna hold Ricky, but he won't let me!" Elena pouted.
"That's because he wants to explore Love bug," Nell grinned, musing her hair.
"But you and Daddy get to hold him!" Elena pouted, seeing Ricky crawl towards her.
"That's because we can hold him a little tighter than you, sweetheart," Bobby Lee grinned, wrapping Elena in a tight hug. "Just like that! And now you can't escape!"
"Daddy!" Elena giggled. "Let go, please!"
"Well, since you asked so nicely," Bobby Lee smiled and let her go with a kiss.
Ricky giggled, flapping his hands like Elena often did, making the six year old frown.
"Why do you get big?" Elena asked. "Why can't you be little?"
"Elena he is little," Gabby smiled, watching Ricky copy her sister's movements.
"But I want him to be little forever!" Elena protested.
"Believe me, I felt the same way about you and Gabby," Nell smiled. "But nothing lasts forever. You two started growing up, and as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't stop what happens naturally."
"I wish I could," Elena pouted, seeing Ricky crawl into her lap. "Bad Ricky!"
Ricky babbled in confusion, trying not to cry. What did he do to make Elena upset with him?
"There's no such thing as a bad Ricky," Bobby Lee smiled as he took Ricky in his arms. "You just love being with your big sisters, don't you?"
Ricky squealed, reaching toward Gabby. At least he knew she liked him.
"You good baby, Ricky," Gabby smiled.
Elena gave Ricky a little hug at last, but she still wanted Ricky to be little like he was now. And she knew someone who might be able to help her: Mister Magic Man.
Mr. Magic Man, she knew from Amber and Sofia, had turned James into a baby once. Though it was by accident.
Still Elena wanted him to help her. She wanted Ricky to be a baby, not crawling and soon to be walking and talking.
She remembered the way to his workshop and knocked on the door.
When Cedric opened the door, he was surprised. "You're not Sofia!"
Elena giggled. "No, silly Mister Magic Man! I'm Elena! You make potion?"
"Of course I make potions," Cedric said as Elena came in.
"You make potion for me?" Elena asked. "I want Ricky to be little forever!"
Cedric looked worried. He remembered what happened when James had been turned into a baby, and he did not want anything like that to happen again.
"But don't you want him to grow up?" Cedric asked, trying to reason with her. "To go to school? To be like your daddy?"
"No," Elena frowned. "Be baby."
"And why is that?" Cedric teased a little.
"I can carry him around and play with him," Elena smiled.
"I know how you feel," Cedric smiled a little, "I remember when my niece Callista was born. My sister Cordelia and I wanted her to be little forever, and I was so sad when she started growing. But Cordy told me that Callista's just as sweet and charming as she was when she was born, and that won't change."
"Really?" Elena asked.
"Of course," Cedric muttered before seeing her frown. "But I can tell that you still want him little so we'll do a little something to maybe change your mind."
"Like a game?!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands.
"Exactly," Cedric smiled.
"Birdie play too?" Elena asked, happy that she could now talk to Wormwood.
"I think Wormy would rather stay here," Cedric replied, "Someone needs to keep an eye on things while I'm watching you."
"Okay Mr. Magic man!" Elena grinned, clapping her hands. "We play now?"
"In a moment," Cedric answered, grabbing the potion that she wanted. "I want you to do something for me."
"What that?" Elena asked in confusion.
"You are to promise me that we do this with Sofia or your parents in the room," Cedric said firmly. "I know about the potion you used on your Kitty, even if it was by accident. Like you learned, magic can be dangerous. Ricky had a potion spill on him another time, but at least it was temporary and harmless. I don't want anyone mad at me for using a potion like this without permission. I also don't want to get anyone in trouble."
"Okay," Elena agreed. "I promise."
"Good girl," Cedric smiled, taking her hand. "You know how to listen to what you're told don't you?"
"Sometimes Mr. Magic man," Elena admitted as he helped her down the stairs.
"Well, this time it's very important to listen to what you're told," Cedric said as they made their way back to the sitting room. "You can't grab something out of my hands, or get distracted with kitties."
"I be good girl," Elena said as she and Cedric entered the sitting room.
When he saw the person in there, Cedric gave an almost audible sigh of relief. Sofia was in the room with Ricky. If there was one person he trusted completely when it came to magic, it was her.
"Mister Cedric. Elena," Sofia greeted them. "Nell and Bobby Lee took Gabby to physical therapy a few minutes ago. Is everything okay?"
Ricky looked up at his big sister, chewing on Zoomer's wing as he crawled towards her.
"No no. Not right now," Cedric smiled, gently leading Ricky the other way.
"Why not Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked in surprise.
"Elena wants me to use a spell to make Ricky stay little," Cedric explained.
"What?! Mister Cedric, didn't you learn anything from the spell that changed James into a baby?" Sofia gasped.
"Don't listen to Princess Amber when she wants me to do something like that?" Cedric couldn't help but smirk.
"Well, that too," Sofia giggled. "But Elena is acting a little just like her."
"Well don't worry Sofia. I'm sure that she'll learn in a few moments," Cedric assured, patting her on the head. "Are you ready?" he continued. "This will only last an hour or two, so you'd best make the most of it."
"Okay," Elena smiled as Cedric took Ricky in his arms.
Elena didn't really know what Cedric was going to do or how long an hour was.
Yet she couldn't contain her excitement as she didn't see Sofia smiling a playful grin.
Cedric looked toward Sofia for moral support, then he cast the spell.
Ricky squealed as he felt a glow of magic surround him. When it cleared, he looked around.
"Well?" Cedric asked.
Ricky babbled in confusion, looking around for his big sister.
Instead he saw a small mop of brown curls, gently petting them.
Sofia also looked around. "Elena? Where are you? Mister Cedric, what happened?"
"Well she wanted him little but I don't want to harm him," Cedric explained, putting Ricky down.
"So you used Elena instead?!" Sofia pouted, crossing her arms. "Mr. Cedric!"
"It's only for an hour, and by the time the spell wears off, she'll have learned a valuable lesson," Cedric reasoned.
"Well, I remember you had me and Amber come up to your workshop where you turned Amber into a baby so she knew what it was like," Sofia admitted. "And that lasted for an hour as well. We never did tell Mom and Dad about that."
"I know, but at least Helen and Robert won't know about this, since they're taking Miss Gabby to her physical therapy," Cedric added.
"That's what I wanted to tell you," Sofia started. "Nell and Bobby Lee will be late coming home. They ran into one of their friends, and she invited them to have lunch with her. They'll be back later this afternoon."
"And by the time they come home, Miss Elena will be back to normal," Cedric agreed.
Ricky crawled towards Elena, who was now the same size, and took Kitty from her arms.
Elena frowned, crawling to her little baby brother and took Kitty back before biting him.
"We forgot that she was a little aggressive at this age," Sofia groaned, picking up a wailing Ricky. "She didn't mean to Ricky."
Ricky smiled as Sofia nuzzled Zoomer against him. He had always loved Elena's Kitty, but then, he had loved all kitties from the moment he was born.
Meanwhile, Cedric murmured, "Biting's not nice, Elena. We don't want to hurt Ricky, or anyone."
Elena giggled as she reached up for Cedric's bow tie and tried to play with his silver bangs.
"Didn't you say Callista used to do that too?" Sofia asked.
"Oh yes," Cedric smiled. "That was one of her more endearing actions, and Cordy and I could never stay angry at her when she did that."
"Looks like Elena loves doing it too," Sofia grinned, watching Elena play.
"Kitty," Elena cooed, getting attached to Cedric's sliver bangs.
"Oh, yes, I remember that," Cedric admitted. "Just like Ricky, Elena's always loved kitties. Especially when her namesake gave her the little jaquin of hers at her christening."
"And it seems that Ricky likes your bangs too," Sofia smiled, seeing Ricky crawl over and reach up for Cedric's hair.
"Ah, yes, Helen brought Ricky up to my workshop a few days after he was born, and he reached up for my hair then too," Cedric smiled.
Meanwhile, Ricky and Elena babbled at each other, but Cedric and Sofia smiled at every other word being 'kitty.'
Kitty had been Elena's first word and was adorable for awhile before it became worrying for Nell who noticed her lack of vocabulary.
But at that moment, it was adorable again as Ricky showed Elena Zoomer.
"Ooma!" Elena giggled.
"What's she saying?" Cedric asked.
"I think she's trying to say 'Zoomer,'" Sofia smiled.
"Ooma kitty!" Elena shrieked.
"That's right, Elena, Zoomer's Ricky's kitty," Sofia smiled, checking the clock over Elena's head and seeing that there was half an hour left for the spell.
Ricky frowned, starting to fuss as Elena handed him Zoomer.
"That's not his hungry cry," Sofia explained, having watched him before.
"I'm just surprised he's rejecting his kitty," Cedric smirked before picking up Ricky and taking him in his arms. "There there. It's alright."
He even made a few sparkles with his wand, recalling that James and Amber used to love seeing that when they were Ricky's age.
Both Ricky and Elena squealed happily as the sparkles danced around them. Cedric smiled; like James, Ricky tried to reach for the pretty lights, but he couldn't catch them.
"Ooma kitty?" Elena suggested again, handing him Zoomer.
Ricky gave a happy squeal this time, taking Zoomer in his arms and bouncing on Cedric's lap.
"Did Amber and James like bouncing on your lap Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked, taking Elena in her arms.
"They did," Cedric recalled before seeing Elena turn red. "But I advise you to be careful with Elena Sofia. She's a baby now so we can't understand her."
"Unless she cries," Sofia remembered from when Elena and Gabby were little. "You okay Elena?"
"We'd best change her, just to be on the safe side," Cedric murmured, recognizing the look on Elena's face.
After changing Elena, and Ricky, Sofia checked the clock. "Ten minutes left."
"Time does fly when you're having fun, doesn't it, Elena?" Cedric smiled.
"See trick!" Elena giggled, crawling over to him.
"Now why can't you say that when you're a big girl?" Cedric teased, musing her hair.
"I think Ricky is trying to speak to," Sofia smiled, stroking Ricky's hair.
"El!" Ricky babbled, clapping his hands.
"Me El!" Elena shrieked, clapping her hands.
"El!" Ricky squealed.
"That's right, Ricky, that's Elena!" Sofia smiled. "She's so proud of you, and so are we!"
"We are indeed," Cedric smiled. "Five minutes left."
"Elena!" Ricky giggled, clapping his hands.
Elena squealed, handing him Kitty to pet as they sat down and babbled happily.
All too soon, Elena was surrounded by a sparkly glow, and when it faded, she was her normal six-year-old self again. "Hi, Ricky!" she giggled, flying Zoomer around for him.
"Lena!" Ricky giggled.
"He talked! He say my name!" Elena cheered, flapping her hands so hard that Cedric and Sofia were surprised she wasn't flying around the room. "Love you, Ricky!"
"Lena! Lena!" Ricky squealed, getting on his feet before falling down on his bottom.
"You try again whenever you want," Elena smiled, hugging him close.
"Isn't that adorable!" they were surprised to hear a new voice in the doorway. Nell and Bobby Lee were watching the whole thing.
"Mommy! Ricky talked!" Elena shrieked.
"We heard," Bobby Lee smiled, tossing Ricky in the air. "We're so proud of you, buddy!"
"And just think, earlier you didn't want Ricky to grow up," Nell smirked, mussing her hair. "What do you think now?"
"I want Ricky to talk!" Elena cheered.
Meanwhile, Cedric whispered to Sofia, "I won't tell them if you won't!"
"Your secret's safe with me," Sofia whispered back.
"Lena!" Ricky giggled.
"Now say Mommy," Nell cooed, taking him in her arms. "Mommy."
"Lena!" Ricky repeated, flapping his hands.
"Or say Daddy," Bobby Lee grinned. "Daddy!"
"Lena!" Ricky squealed.
"He actually said El before," Sofia spoke up.
"And we missed it," Nell sighed. But at the same time she brightened. "But all of you got to hear it!"
Sofia and Cedric exchanged glances before nodding their heads as Ricky slipped from Nell's arms and crawled towards Elena.
"What is it Ricky?" Elena asked.
"Lena," Ricky cooed, hugging her close.
"I love you too, Ricky!" Elena smiled.
"That's our little Love Bug," Bobby Lee smiled.
"Yes, and now we'll have to think of a nickname for Ricky!" Nell grinned.
"Maybe when he speaks more than just Lena," Sofia smirked.
"I think I'll take your advice Sofia," Nell smiled, musing her hair.
"But we have his first birthday to think about," Bobby Lee reminded her with a smirk.
"Ricky have a kitty party too?" Elena suggested.
"Or whatever kind of party he wants," Nell smiled. "We'll show him pictures and see what kind of party he likes the most."
Ricky squealed at the idea, clapping his hands.
But he didn't need a picture to tell him what he wanted, snuggling close to Elena.
"I think he just wants to be with Elena right now," Bobby Lee smiled, taking a picture of them together.
"You're right," Nell smiled, "But what do you say we put Ricky down for a nap, then maybe later when he's awake we can show him the pictures of parties?"
"Good idea," Bobby Lee smiled as he picked up Ricky and Zoomer.
"Lena?" Ricky whimpered, looking around. "Lena! Lena!"
"I come too? Please?" Elena asked, hearing her little brother's cries. "And Sofia and Mr. Magic man?"
"Of course," Nell smiled. "I think Ricky would like a few friendly faces around him as he goes down for his nap."
"Actually, I need to get back to my workshop," Cedric admitted. "I don't like leaving Wormwood alone for too long. I'd only come down to get something to eat, but then I was distracted by a few other things."
"It happens to the best of us," Nell assured him, unaware of what the 'other things' were. "You go check on Wormwood and we'll take care of Ricky."
"But don't worry, Elena," Sofia smiled as she pulled her into a hug, "I'll come and help put Ricky down for his nap with you."
Elena smiled, despite not remembering turning into a baby, she was thrilled that Ricky could talk.
So much so that she wanted to wake up Gabby before remembering that she was napping.
"We'll tell Gabby all about Ricky starting to talk when she wakes up," Nell assured her.
"Or we can have her come in and Ricky can surprise her," Bobby Lee agreed.