After Pinocchio's birthday had gone by, Geppetto began teaching Pinocchio more things like how to swim, practiced every day with Pinocchio's speech pattern development in talking, and could take Pinocchio more places that he couldn't as a smaller infant. Whenever he couldn't take him still, he often had Martina's family look after him or anyone else who could be available if they weren't. On his days off, Geppetto loved to entertain Pinocchio with the marionette puppet that Martina had given them for Christmas.

One day, Geppetto closed up shop to take Pinocchio for a day out. He wanted to take the baby boy out for a picnic by the old lake near the pine tree forest where he and Francesca used to spend time. It was his favorite spot to be with her on sunny days and most starry nights. His mind raced back to his younger days with her when they were children at the orphanage. Though they had no families of their own, they grew close to each other as best friends. After they grew up and married, they visited their old childhood play spot often before Pinocchio was born. It was here that he had brought her to be buried shortly after she had passed away. Right under a tree where they carved their names into. He remembered the night they did so.

A flashback about that night occurred in his mind. The young 9-year-old Geppetto and 8-year-old Francesca were perched on a tree branch together admiring the scenery of the forest.

"Francesca, do you ever wonder what we could be like if we had families?" 9-year-old Geppetto asked her.

"Of course, every child who has a family, especially parents seems to be much luckier than us. What do you think your life could be like with your parents if you had any?" Francesca replied to him.

Young Geppetto sighed.

"All I know is that when I grow up," he said. "I'm gonna have a family of my own. A beautiful wife and children. In a nice comfortable home. What about you, Fran?"

" I hope to have a family too. Especially Children. And if we ever get our wishes to come true will you ever come to visit me?"

"Of course, Francesca. But I'd rather hope that person I shared that family with being with you. Of course, we're still kids, and our future is not clear. But I feel very lucky to be friends with someone like you."

"Geppetto, I feel the same."

Before they left the forest, they both carved their names into the very tree they were sitting on. Geppetto's mind flashed back to the present again.

Geppetto let out a smile at his happy memory. With or without Francesca around, at least he did have something. Pinocchio was all he had left of her, but nothing about that changed how much he cared for him. Figaro and Cleo were more or less blessings to him too. To him, all of them were his family. He cared for them and loved them all. As he brought himself back to the present, he finished packing the last of the food in the basket and went to pick up Pinocchio.

"Come on, Pinocchio. We're going out for a nice day together. A nice father-son picnic where I used to play as a boy. We'll leave Mr. Cricket behind today. Don't want him getting lost out there."

Pinocchio let out a happy squeal as Geppetto picked him up and hugged him before placing in the carrier to take him out. Figaro felt a bit uneasy having to be left behind.

"Sorry, Figaro. But I'm taking Pinocchio out for a picnic. I'll be back later this evening. Martina will look after you today. See you soon. She'll be here in a while. Behave while I'm out."

Geppetto left the house carrying Pinocchio. As they traveled through the village, people looked on and waved as Geppetto waved back with a smile. Every so often, to keep Pinocchio from getting hot, he moved in and out of the shadows in between buildings to keep cool. As Pinocchio felt the last jump through the last shadow on the way to the edge of town, he felt a sensation in his stomach. It was-

Hic

Pinocchio's tummy flip-flopped and he started hiccuping. He suddenly got nervous.

"Don't worry, it's just the hiccups," said Geppetto as he set the food down and picked up Pinocchio out of the carrier and cuddled him against his chest. Geppetto gave him a pat on the back and started rubbing up and down and rocked him back and forth until Pinocchio let out a burp.

"Feel better, Pinocchio?" Geppetto asked happily.

"Daddy, hicub stoppy", Pinocchio babbled innocently.

"Yes, Pinocchio. Daddy stopped your hiccups. It's nothing to be afraid of. Everybody gets them. Sometimes, grown-ups like daddy get them too. Now let's get moving."

Geppetto put Pinocchio back in the harness and picked up the picnic basket and kept on going all the way to the woods. It was his first time there since Pinocchio's birth when Francesca was laid to rest there.

Soon they reached the area near the lake and Geppetto laid the picnic blanket on the ground and set the food as Pinocchio curiously looked in the basket at all the yummy stuff they had brought. Since Pinocchio was still too young to eat most of it, except for the blueberry pie and most of the drinks, Geppetto brought some good baby food and a drink cup for Pinocchio to make sure he still ate. They laid their set up underneath a beautiful pine tree in the shade. As a butterfly passed by, Pinocchio stared in curiosity at it and began to chase it while Geppetto wasn't looking briefly as he was the rest of the picnic. He turned for a moment to check on Pinocchio and saw the boy wandering off.

"Pinocchio!"

He got up and chased after him and picked him up.

"Pinocchio, don't you ever run off like that again, You scared me, you could have been lost or hurt."

"Buttafwy!" Pinocchio squealed as he pointed.

Geppetto turned and looked to see.

"Oh, you were chasing a butterfly. I see. I was just scared. I don't want to lose you again, son. I still haven't forgotten last week at the market. I thought I'd lost you. But thank goodness that Fredrico found you."


Geppetto's mind suddenly flashed back to the incident in question. He remembered how frantic he was when he noticed Pinocchio was not nearby.

"Help! Where's Pinocchio?! Has anyone seen my son?! He's only a year old! Help!"

He ran from stall to stall and in and out of buildings. But no sign of him.

"What am I going to do?! Francesca would kill me if she were here now!"

After looking for about half an hour, he bumped into Fredrico who was holding him.

"Oh, Fredrico, thank you so much. I thought I'd lost him."

Fredrico explained he had found him chasing a puppy and Pinocchio was crying when he realized he was lost. Geppetto thanked him again. From that day on he remembered to be extra careful when taking Pinocchio on errands with him.


His mind came back to the present as he looked at his son again.

The butterfly flew back and landed on Pinocchio's face making him giggle. Before long, it flew off again.

"Alright, Pinocchio. Time to say bye-bye to the pretty little butterfly."

"Bye-bye, buttafwy," he muttered sadly. Geppetto cuddled him close by hoping to make him better.

"It's alright, Pinocchio. Come on, it's time to eat now."

Geppetto and Pinocchio ate all the food and after a while went for a nice swim together in the water hole. His mind flashed back to when he and Francesca sometimes used to play and fish in this same lake too. From what he saw, the boy had already managed to learn for being a one-year-old, Geppetto was pleased to see Pinocchio getting to be such a good swimmer.

"Pinocchio, you are so smart. I don't know how you do it."

As they played, Geppetto told stories about his own childhood at the lake. The cool water was refreshing after the long walk from the village. They spent the rest of the day playing and fishing at the lake.

Later at sunset, Geppetto gathered everything as he set Pinocchio down briefly. Pinocchio heard a chirping sound and crawled for a moment moving towards it. He found a little blue baby bird. It seemed sad. Pinocchio gave it a small stroke as Geppetto walked over.

"What did you find, Pinocchio?"

"Birdie. Birdie" babbled Pinocchio. Geppetto knelt down and looked at it.

"Oh, hello there. What's the matter, little fellow? Are you lost?"

The little bird chirped and flew up to Pinocchio's hand.

"I think he's lost, Pinocchio."

He turned to the bird.

"Want us to help you find your mama and your papa?"

The baby bird nodded in agreement.

"Pinocchio, why don't you hold the birdie while we help him?"

So Geppetto carried both of them. Pinocchio held onto the bird and seemed to be bonding with it. Before long they found a nest in a nearby pine tree. Two bluebirds popped out of it chirping happily. Geppetto realized this was the bird's family. He lifted Pinocchio far up enough to reach the nest and as Pinocchio placed the bird back into the nest with its family, he uttered, "bye, bye, birdie". The bird family smiled and watched as Geppetto brought Pinocchio back down.

Geppetto looked at Pinocchio and said to him, "Pinocchio, that was so sweet how you helped take care of that poor little bird. Just like how I take such good care of you. You are such a good boy. Now come on. Let's go home."

Pinocchio started feeling very tired on the way home. Only after a short while, Geppetto stopped at a nearby tree. The very one where he Francesa carved their initials on as children. This is where she was buried. Geppetto looked at the ground where a small field of flowers marked the burial ground.

"Hello, Francesca. I know I haven't been around here in some time. But I've been busy taking care of Pinocchio. He's such a good boy. I miss you so much, my dear. If only you were still alive. You would be wonderful with him. He helped take care of a lost baby bird today. I thought I'd stop by and visit you for a bit. I love you now more than ever. It seems as though it was only yesterday we were with each other for the last time when Pinocchio arrived. As I have kept true to my promises, I shall continue to do so for not just Pinocchio or myself. But for you, Francesca. My darling dearly departed flower. Farewell, my love."

Geppetto carried the sleeping infant all the way home as the sunset. Shedding only a small tear as the neared the house. He stopped for a moment and looked down at the boy.

"Oh, Pinocchio. If only your mother were here with us. At least she left me with you still. There's nothing else I'd rather be grateful for. Now let's get you to bed."

Geppetto opened the door to see Martina asleep on a chair with Figaro. Figaro woke up and ran up to Geppetto. Geppetto knelt down and gave Figaro some attention. He turned to Fredrico.

"Thank you, Fredrico. Thank you for taking care of Figaro while I was out with Pinocchio. We had quite a special day today."

"I imagine so. Martina enjoyed helping take care of Figaro. Come on, Martina. Time to go, sweety."

"Okay, daddy," said Martina as she woke up. Geppetto hugged both Martina and Fredrico as they walked out the door. He then gave Figaro a piece of fish and carried Pinocchio to his crib. As Geppetto left he heard Pinocchio let out a sad whisper.

"Mommy."

Pinocchio was awake looking at a picture of Francesca left on the dresser nearby. Geppetto walked over to the crib and stroked Pinocchio's head.

"I'm sorry, Pinocchio. But mommy's not here. Just me."

Pinocchio's lips started to tremble realizing he was without his mommy remembering the baby bird he bonded with earlier that day. Geppetto picked him up and hugged him.

"Mommy didn't get to stay with us when you were born, son. She wishes she could be here, but she's up above loving you. But I'm not going anywhere. I won't leave you. I promise."

Geppetto cradled Pinocchio and placed him back in the crib.

"Good night, Pinocchio," he said as he kissed Pinocchio's forehead. "I love you very much."

"Wuv you," Pinocchio replied back with a smile as he cuddled his stuffed cricket in his left arm.

Geppetto sang him a quick lullaby and left Pinocchio to fall asleep. Geppetto cooked himself a dinner plate and ate it thinking about the wonderful day he had spent out with Pinocchio. Despite how much he was still struggling without Francesca, he knew deep down he was proud of himself for how great a father he had been thus far. As for Pinocchio's sudden interest in Francesca, he was certain it was just a phase that would pass soon. Figaro climbed up on the table and motioned to be petted.

"Hello, Figaro. Thanks for being such a good kitty while I was gone. You can play with Pinocchio tomorrow. He's asleep for the night."

Figaro let out a soft meow as Geppetto gave him a loving stroke.

"Now come on, we need to go to bed. It's getting late."

Geppetto took Figaro upstairs and they both went to bed. On the way to his own bed, Geppetto stopped to check on Pinocchio. Pinocchio was still snoozing away, safe and comfortable in the crib. Geppetto simply stared and smiled.