Chapter 4 Twinkling Eyes

Rosalina sat in her chair in the Library with Solar in her arms. She hummed a sweet, twinkling melody as the child slept like a space rock. She caressed his cheek, almost as if he were her biological son. She felt his heart beat against her chest, causing her to smile warmly. His breathing rate was soft, fluttery, and peaceful.

It had only been a few days since Rosalina had found Solar in that field of comet debris, but to her, it felt like forever. That wasn't meant as a knock; she meant that in the best of ways. She felt as if she had known the little baby all her life. It was special, getting a chance to hold such a young, helpless life form in her arms like this. She couldn't remember the last time she had held a human baby.

Now that she thought about it...she didn't really know the first thing about raising a child. Sure, she had managed to keep Solar well fed since finding him. But surely, that wasn't enough. Surely, there was more to raising a child than that. Perhaps Rosalina should read up about childcare, or maybe she could ask one of her Mushroom friends about taking care of a baby. Toadsworth, who had acted as Peach's guardian throughout most of her life, would definitely know a thing or two about babies.

Yes, yes, she would do that later. But for now...she just wanted to enjoy this moment. This beautiful, peaceful moment. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, ready to let the constant pump of Solar's heartbeat lull her to sleep.

"Man. You sure have grown attached to him over the past few days."

Rosalina nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked and saw Polari, leaning a pointed appendage against the doorframe. He slowly came into the study, his eyes playful and spunky. He leaned in close to Solar's sleeping form.

"How long has he been asleep?"

"About thirty minutes." Rosalina chuckled. "I think that's a new record."

Polari nodded. "Mmhm." He glanced up at his mistress. "I didn't get a wink of sleep last night."

"Oh, I know," Rosalina said, "he's been crying up a storm!" She glanced back down at him. "Regardless, he is quite a cutie pie."

Right at that moment, Solar opened his eyes. His ruby red irises twinkled and shone like a Class 1 star. His icy blue pupils reflected Polari and Rosalina. He held his hands up toward the Midnight black luma. He opened and closed his fingers, indicating that he wanted to be picked up.

Polari sighed. "Really? Kid, you know I'm too small to hold you!"

Regardless, Solar kept staring at him, opening and closing his hands in a grabby sort of way.

Rosalina laughed and hugged Solar to her chest. "Don't worry, baby. I am right here for you." Solar grunted, almost as if he was trying to replicate Rose's speech patterns. Rose smiled. "Are you trying to talk to me?" He grunted a second time, then a third. Before she knew it, Solar was whimpering. Rosalina's brow furrowed. "Solar, what's wrong?"

Before she could even finish the sentence, Solar spat up. Saliva containing the mushed up sparkles of star bits dribbled down his front and onto Rosalina's dress. Rosalina gasped.

"Oh my stars." She backed up Solar and held him at arm's length. "Are you sick? You're sick, aren't you?"

Solar just stared back at her, blinking out his eyes. Rosalina cradled him in her arms and rushed back toward the bookshelf. Polari raised an eyebrow.

"Rose…"

"Where where, oh where is that book?" Rose muttered. "There has to be something here about childcare!"

Polari cleared his throat. "Rose, don't worry. Solar is not sick; he just spit up."

Rosalina stopped and slowly turned toward her confidant. "Spit up? So...this is normal?"

Polari nodded. "Yes. Completely normal." He floated up toward Solar and brushed his paint through his hair. "Trying to give your adopted Mommy a heart attack, are you?" He laughed. "You're dedicated to a good mission."

Rosalina glared at him. "Thanks so much," she scoffed. She looked down at him, the stickiness of the spittle starting to stick to his pure white skin. "What do you propose I do?"

Polari shrugged. "I don't know; give him a bath at the Fountain?"

Rosalina blinked before nodding. "You're right. That seems like the wisest choice." With Solar gripped in her arms, she floated out the library and went to the Fountain Dome. Polari floated right after, his eyes locked onto the grunting Solar. Once they got there, Rosalina waved her wand, causing a baby bath to materialize right in the center of the dome. She carefully set him down in it before taking a cup and pouring water onto his front. Solar smiled, which did help the Lady of the Shooting Stars to feel a little better. She smiled back as she wiped the spittle off of his front.

Polari watched, a sort of awe in his eyes as he stayed silent. Finally, he spoke up. "You seem a little on edge."

Rosalina hesitated. "I...I guess."

"Why is that?"

Rose shrugged. "I...I suppose that I am just not used to this. I mean…" she poured more water onto Solar's front…."sure I interact with luma babies all the time. But I am not used to taking care of human babies."

Polari laughed. "Yeah, you can say that again!" He floated up toward her. "For what it's worth, you're doing great so far."

"Yes, but it has only been a few days." Rose stopped pouring water on Solar and pulled his clean form out of the tub. She then took a wipe and hastily began cleaning her dress. "I hope that I can continue on with this good pattern I have set up."

Polari set his hand down on Rosalina's shoulder. "Knowing you, you definitely will."

Rosalina grinned at Polari, Polari grinned back with twinkling eyes. They stayed in that position for a little bit before Rose heard someone clearing their throat in the doorway. Lifting her head, she saw a yellow luma with a dusty book and a furrowed brow.

"Mama, Polari, there's something you might want to see. It's...it's about Solar."

Rosalina raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Well, um...I think there's a slight possibility that he will develop powers."