49: R&N: Sushi & Siblings

10:15 am, Central Park, Balto Sculpture

Mel heard a ping from her phone. Harry. She hurriedly unlocked the phone and read his message.

Twins, a boy and a girl. Mum and babies doing swimmingly. :)

She grinned, chasing after Maya and Tory, who had begun following the grey-pink park pigeons a little too closely.

11:30 am, Next Day, New York Luxury Apartment

"And I'll have one delivery order each of softshell crab sushi, California roll, salmon roll, oh and—" Abigael spoke into the phone, glancing at her two little charges, "…an order of Hello Kitty sushi roll, if you have it. Yes, the one with codfish and potato. We're in a bit of a hurry. Thanks." She ended the call, finally looking up from her phone.

"Aunt Abi, why're you ordering so much food?" Maya furrowed her brow, appearing rather skeptical at this turn of events.

"Well…" Abigael kneeled, meeting Maya's eyes. "Your baby brother and sister have been born, and we're all paying them a visit this afternoon! You're a big sister," Abigael finished, hugging Maya tightly, who hugged her right back.

"Wow," the little girl murmured. "Will they like me?" she whispered.

"I most certainly think they will," answered Mel affectionately, walking over from the living room where she and Tory had been drawing on construction paper for the past hour. "Why don't you make a card for them, and your mom and dad, welcoming them into the family?"

"Ok, Aunt Mel, will do." Maya trotted over to the living room table, her dark hazel-gold curls bouncing all the while as she dutifully set to work on her newest artistic creation.

3 pm, Azores, Ponta Delgada Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Patient Room

The foursome landed squarely within Macy's private hospital room, having been provided highly detailed directions by way of Harry an hour before. Abigael was the first to speak. "Sushi, for the mother," she stated, retrieving the containers and chopsticks from the plastic bags. "I know you've been craving this for the better part of a year. I brought a variety, so we can all picnic here with you."

"Oh my gosh," breathed Macy, "…thanks so much," she said, juggling two cloth-wrapped bundles in each of her willowy arms.

"Mommy, I made you a card!" Maya shrieked, showing Macy the construction paper drawing she'd made earlier of themselves, plus a little boy and girl. "It's to welcome my little brother and sister into the family."

"Oh, love, that's so thoughtful," Harry ruffled Maya's curls from where he sat, perching her on his lap. "Speaking of which—I'll allow Macy to do the introductions—"

Macy nodded, displaying two tiny bundles at last. "The one on the left is Henry Thomas, our little boy. He's a quiet little thinker." Indicating the bundle on her right, she spoke, "this one's Matilda Marcella, a fierce, determined baby girl."

"It's nice to meet you, Henry and Matilda," Maya whispered, as she reached a finger out for their tiny hands to grab ahold.

3:20 pm, Azores, Ponta Delgada Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Patient Room

Not wanting to overstay their welcome, Mel collected the utensils and empty containers, disposing of them in the nearby trashcans. Later the next day, Maggie and Jordan would meet Macy and Harry and help them all get settled at Vera Manor, then eventually Epicenter Pico No. 23 once Macy's stitches were sufficiently healed.

Maya and Tory were quietly coloring their construction paper artwork in a corner of the room now, and Abigael was rather sure Macy could use additional rest. However, just before the four were about to pick up their things and leave, Macy stopped them. "Abigael," she murmured from the hospital bed. "Would you and Mel be Henry and Matilda's godparents?"

Abigael paused, biting her lip. "Really? As in, really, really?" she whispered. Macy nodded.

"Yes, really," Macy replied louder, with certainty. "I've seen how you've tutored Maya all those weeks ago and how she's improved her magical defense and riding skills, thanks entirely to you. She adores spending time with Tory and looks to her as an older sister and role model."

Mel tried not to exchange glances with Abigael, recalling in vivid detail the pony-riding, fountain-drenching, and sugar high-squealing that had taken place in the past seventy-two hours; somehow Mel managed to maintain a straight face.

"Abigael, you and Mel both have molded these girls into bright stars of the future, mischief notwithstanding," Macy regarded her own daughter fondly, with a rather bemused expression. She totally knew what we'd be up against, Mel realized, as she laughed to herself. "So what's it gonna be?"

Abigael's eyes fixed on Mel's approving expression. "Yes," she uttered, placing a sylph-like arm around Mel's shoulders. "We'd love to be their godparents, wouldn't we?"

"Yup," Mel chimed in. "I mean, it's only fair, since Maggie's Maya's godmother—spread the love and all—" which garnered a good-natured laugh from the rest of the adults present.

9 pm, New York Luxury Apartment, Tory's Bedroom

Mel and Abigael dotingly regarded the two small girls currently snoring on Tory's four-poster bed. They had renamed the "guest bedroom" as "Tory's bedroom" since the adoption was made official a few weeks ago; even though Tory had briefly met them once or twice beforehand, somehow it felt as though this girl had always been a part of their lives. The girls' drawings lay scattered about; as Mel picked one up, she recognized her own dark hair, Abigael's chestnut brown hair, and Tory's own neat braids and trademark green eyes. Further down the page were Macy, Harry, and Maya, Maggie and Jordan, Morgana and Matias. The two newest arrivals to the Valensi family were indicated by the bundles in Macy and Harry's arms. "My family," Tory had written. Indeed.