Chapter Five: That's a Palace...
Skipper grabbed another toy that was waiting to trip her, annoyance flaring up inside of her. "Grandma...how long do we have to wait till Barbie can call us again?"
Grandma glanced over at her, before turning her attention to the cloth that she was embroidering. "I thought she would have called by now at least... maybe in a few."
Barbie followed her not at all dead grandfather out of the Hospital, Sequin right at her heels. "You know... I don't know your name. Seems only fair..."
Biting back an irritated sigh, he glanced back at her. "Henry Roberts. Not that matters at all. You will refer to me as grandfather."
Barbie raised her eyebrow at that, certain that she was imagining it. Surely that did not come across as an order... vaguely she recalled her father mentioning once to her mother, unaware that Barbie was listening in, that her grandfather didn't really know how to connect with people. "He's good at bossy people around...just not connecting with them." He had sounded so sad when he had mentioned that. Shaking her head, she hurried forward to catch up with him. "I am presuming that you either have my phone, or you have one that I can use." She was late with checking in, making sure that Grandma was indeed handling everything okay. She was used to two little girls, not the virtual small army that her parents had.
"Yes." He stopped next to a large limousine, it wasn't pink like the one that she was used to using, impatiently waiting for the chauffeur to open the door. "I shall have one sent to your room as soon as possible." Barbie gave a slow nod of her head, catching on to the fact that he was waiting for her to slip inside, before ducking into the limousine himself. "Anyone in particular you were hoping to contact?" Was it just her, or was there the smallest hint of hope in his voice?
Barbie carefully crossed her legs, clasping her hands on top of her knees. "My siblings for starters. Check to make sure that Grandma isn't too overwhelmed without me there to help her." Upon noticing his confusion, she elaborated, figuring that he most likely was so estranged from her father, that if he didn't know her name, then he most definitely wouldn't know her younger siblings. "Dad told Mom that he wanted a lot of kids. I guess he succeeded in that since there is a total of eight of us. I'm the oldest." Taking in a deep breath, calming breath, he looked uneasy at what she had just informed him, she turned her head to stare out the window. "I might call my friends too, just to see what's going on with them."
"Friends?"
"Well...yeah. Let's see here, there's Theresa, Rene, Nikki, oh...and my oldest friend, Ken." Barbie lifted one shoulder up in a shrug.
Henry, frowned, a hum escaping him as he noted the way she sighed when she mentioned Kan's name. "What about your siblings? How many of them are boys?"
"Just Todd." Barbie shrugged nonchalantly, before continuing. "He's only ten."
Henry hummed at that, noting that would place about six years between her and her only brother. "Driver? How much longer till we arrive at our destination?"
"We just arrived Your Highness." The chauffeur somehow managed to keep his features neutral, and his voice devoid of any emotions.
"Good. Park the limo up front." King Henry gave a quick, almost a jerk, nod of his head.
"Yes sire."
Barbie drew her eyebrows together as she thought back to the mob of paparazzi that had been outside when she had been released. They had been more interested in asking questions about her father, and questioning her grandfather, than to really bother her...which of itself is strange. "What exactly do you do for a living?"
He started slightly, glancing over at her in surprise. "Didn't your father tell you?"
"No." She looked him square in the eyes, her expression calm. "If I wanted to learn anything about you, I had to eavesdrop on my parents. Trust me when I say that even then, he didn't talk much about you."
"Perhaps you should step out and take a look at your father's child home." King Henry suggested as the chauffeur pulled open the door. He slipped out, before turning to offer his hand to her.
Barbie took it, more so as to be polite than to accept her relation with him. Glancing over at the building that they were parked in front of, she nearly swooned at the sight of a majestic palace rising high in front of them. She quickly glanced back at him, this time seeing him for who he really was. King Henry Thomas Roberts, ruler of Gardania. "Oh..." Suddenly, she felt very small standing next to him. Scowling at herself for such preposterous thinking, the crown doesn't make a person!, she moved to let sequin out, placing a hand on top of her head.
"Come. I am sure that the maids have finished preparing your room by now." He took off briskly, leading the way to the large gold trimmed double doors.
Barbie followed much slower that he did, suddenly uncertain if she should unclip Sequin's leash from her collar. While it was nice to have the leash when traveling, especially in places that require the leash in the first place, Sequin was well trained and wouldn't runoff if the leash was removed. Deciding to play it safe and keep her on the leash a little longer, she followed him up the steps and through the doors. Two maids were already waiting in the vast entryway, both of whom curtsied at their arrival.
"Your room is ready Princess. Whenever you are." The maid on the left spoke up, her voice right on the demur side.
Barbie shook her head at them, before gesturing for them to lead the way. "I would like to change outfits...and see if Sequin will be able to take herself out from there easily."
"Of course...this way." They moved in tandem, heading down the long hall. Barbie just hoped that she wouldn't end up regretting this in the long run.
A/N: Done! Yeah...that took longer than expected/writer's block anyone? I think I've got it down though...and I know what to do with the next chapter! Side note, I just had my first earthquake...and I didn't even know that it was an earthquake. I thought it was just thunder... so yeah...really minor one. Apparently it started in a city that is close by, and you know... we got a small sliver of that because of it. Also, when your favorite animal is the natural predator of your pet... they don't like it when you suddenly lean over their cage and have a stuffed version of their predator dive at them. On the bright side, his reaction was hilarious. I mean seriously dude? Your little tree trunk is not only in the same place as always, but the entrance is still facing the way it always does...
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SkyTalon
