On March 8, the world of music lost a talented singer. James Burke, member of The Five Stairsteps, passed away at age 70.

As another way to celebrate James returning to singing in public, I thought it would be fun if he and Amber joined Sofia and Tilly on one of their apple-picking adventures. And it gets even more special when Tilly's Locus Pocus map takes them to a place they used to go when they were younger. Memories are shared, plans to return to this place as a family day are made, and a fun adventure is shared by everyone. Thanks to Sofia2017 planning for helping with the story. The Five Stairsteps' music is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace, James Burke.

"I can't wait to see Aunt Tilly again!" Sofia smiled as she, James, and Amber went out to meet Tilly, who was coming for a visit. "And this time, Amber, you and James are going to come with us on an adventure!"

"Yes we are," Amber smiled. "I know we said before that we thought she was boring, but we were so glad to be proven wrong after she met Sir Bartleby."

"She was even at the karaoke party when I said I'd never sing behind a closed door again," James agreed, remembering how she had been dancing with Sir Bartleby as he sang his song.

"And if she asks us to help her make her Airabella apple pie, you're both going with us, right?" Sofia asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Amber smiled.

"Me either!" James grinned.

Sofia smiled. "Great!"

"I'm so glad to hear you say that," they heard a voice behind them, "Because that's what we're going to be doing for your father's birthday!"

"Aunt Tilly!" Sofia smiled.

"I know you each have an individual gift for him," Tilly continued as she sat down with them, "But how would you like to work together with me on my gift?"

"That would be brilliant!" James smiled, recalling the guitar concert he was planning for the party.

"I'd love to," Amber agreed, thinking about how she had organized the party, and made sure there was enough jiggly-wiggly pudding for everyone, even though she set aside an extra-large bowl for him.

"I love helping you!" Sofia smiled, thinking about the updated book of castle history she had found for him.

"Whiz-bang, dears!" Tilly grinned.

"You'll even have a brave knight protecting you!" James grinned.

"Really?" Amber teased, "Is Sir Bartelby going with us? Or Sir Finnegan? Or Sir Maxwell?"

"Oh, Amber," Sofia giggled, "James is on his way to becoming a great knight!"

"He certainly is. Now," Tilly said as she pulled two outfits out of her bag that looked like hers for Sofia and Amber, along with a red shirt and black pants out for James, "Hurry up and change. Our adventure awaits!"

As they took the outfits, Sofia asked, "Where are we going to find the apples this time?"

Tilly just smiled. "We'll just have to see where the map takes us this time…"

"You're going to love this," Sofia smiled at Amber and James as they saw Tilly take out a piece of parchment.

"It's just a piece of paper, isn't it, Sof?" James asked.

"Things aren't always what they seem," Tilly smiled. "Sofia, would you like to do the honors?"

"Okay," Sofia smiled. "Locus Pocus map, please show us the location of the Airabella apple orchard!"

The map glowed, and Amber and James watched as pictures appeared on it. "Brilliant!" James grinned.

"That's right," Sofia smiled. "I was the same way when I first saw it in action!"

"So where do we have to go to find them?" Amber asked.

Tilly just smiled and said, "Wherever the map takes us…"

"That sounds like something we'd say when we play music in the Cloud Coaster," Sofia giggled.

"Well, according to the map, we go through the Pine Tree forest, the Lily of the Valley Valley, and we'll find the Airabella apples near Melodious Meadow," Tilly said as she consulted the map.

"Melodious Meadow is the same place we went the first time I went with you," Sofia remembered. "We just passed through it, since the Airabella apples were in a different place."

"That's right," Tilly smiled. She lowered her voice, "And let's wait until we get there to tell Amber and James about this. Roland, Melinda, and I took them there when they were little, and I want to know if they remember it."

Sofia smiled. "Okay, Aunt Tilly!"

Amber smiled as they walked through the pine tree forest. "There are so many pinecones here!" she said as she picked some up. "Sofia taught me how to make pinecone dolls during one of the Buttercups meetings!"

"And Ruby, Jade, and I can always use more for when we do our hair during sleepovers," Sofia giggled as she gathered some for herself.

When they neared the Lily of the Valley Valley a while later, Sofia asked, "Does anyone hear bells?"

"Mom says that Lilies of the Valley are shaped like bells," James explained. "She planted some in the gardens when Amber and I were little, and she had Cedric cast a spell on them to ring when we shook them."

"That's right," Amber agreed, "We used to ring them whenever we were in there with her, and she'd sing with us."

Sofia smiled. "That sounds so cute! I would have loved to see that!"

"And James, I know that look on your face," Tilly added. "You want to stay here and play with the flowers. But the place we're going is much better!" She motioned everyone to her side and pointed in the distance. "You hear that?"

Amber smiled as she heard a soft sound. "It's beautiful!"

"Not just beautiful, dear, it's…melodious," Tilly smiled.

"You mean we're going to Melodious Meadow?" James grinned. "We used to go there with Mom when we were little! She loved that place as much as Amber loves the Jewel Room!"

"Oh, James," Amber giggled, "But you're not wrong!"

"I knew you'd like the idea," Tilly smiled. "When your mother came here with Roland and me, she would always hum or whistle a few notes, and soon her song would be heard across the entire meadow!"

"You think it can work with any singer?" Amber asked. "I remember when James sang the song Mother used to sing when he was alone in the gardens, and the Singing Sunflowers sang with him."

"There's only one way to find out," Tilly smiled. "James, would you like to do the honors?"

"Okay!" James grinned as they came to the orchard. "And I think I know something we can sing as we pick the apples!"

As he looked around, he started singing, Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

"I know that song!" Sofia smiled.

"Care to join me, Sof?" James smiled.

"I'd love to!" Sofia smiled.

As she found a few more apples, she joined him, Some day, yeah
We'll put it together and we'll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

"Ah, singing as we pick apples," Tilly smiled, "Behold the wonders of multi-tasking!"

"Mother always said music makes everything better," Amber smiled.

"Indeed it does, dear," Tilly agreed.

Even she had joined in at this point, Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things'll be brighter

Amber nodded as she joined them, Ooh child
Things are gonna be easier
Ooh child
Things'll be brighter

As they sang, they heard soft music on the wind. "Just like when your mother sang here," Tilly smiled.

"We'll have to come here with Daddy one of these days and see if he remembers this place," Amber suggested.

"We should bring Mom with us too," Sofia agreed. "She'd love this place!"

"Now that's a whiz-bang idea if I ever heard one!" Tilly grinned.

She gave Sofia a little spin as they sang together, Some day, yeah
We'll put it together and we'll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter

James grinned as he spun Amber and sang with her, Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

"It would be like a kind of family day, wouldn't it?" Sofia asked.

"Yes, and I'm sure Miranda would love it here," Tilly smiled. "I remember Roland would hold James on his lap while Melinda danced with Amber as they sang his little 'la-la-la' song and played with the Lily bells he found."

"Everyone does like a good la-la-la song now and then," James agreed, "But now I can sing full songs like this one!"

Some day, some day, some day, some day yeah
We'll put it together and we'll get it undone
Some day
When your head is much lighter

Some day, yeah
We'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day
When the world is much brighter

"And we all love hearing you sing!" Sofia smiled.

"Yes we do!" Tilly agreed.

"And now you're going to sing with your door open, right?" Amber asked.

"Yes, but I'll only sing with it closed when Dad, or anyone, needs quiet, or if Dad's concentrating on royal business," James agreed.

"That's okay, since you want to be considerate," Sofia agreed.

"And let's be thankful you started singing outside your room again before Baileywick's birthday," Amber added.

"I did sing for him," James protested, "Of course, I sang behind a closed door and we recorded me singing, then we played the tape at the party, but I'm going to be singing for everyone now!"

"And we'll all be happy to hear you," Sofia smiled.

"We certainly will," Tilly agreed as they collected their apples.

As they picked the last few apples Tilly needed, they finished the song together, Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh child
Things'll get brighter

A while later, everyone was back at the castle, and Amber, James, and Sofia were helping Tilly bake the pie. "Thank you so much for the help, my little helpers," Tilly smiled.

"It's always fun helping you, Aunt Tilly," Sofia smiled.

"This was really fun," James added, reaching for a few stray crumbs.

"James, no sneaking tastes before the party!" Amber playfully scolded, swatting his hand away.

"But we have to make sure it's good for everyone at the party, don't we?" James asked.

"Oh, James," Sofia giggled as she watched them.

"Your father said the same thing when I made my first Airabella apple pie," Tilly smirked. "Only, he took the pie to his room, and ate the whole thing by himself before dinner! Luckily for him, I'd made another one, so there was still enough pie to go around! Father would have scolded him, but Mum said that his stomachache was punishment enough!"

"At least he learned his lesson," Sofia giggled. "And this pie is big enough for everyone to share!"

"He's going to love it, that's for sure," James agreed.

"Yes he will," Amber smiled.

"Well, my little helpers, what do you say we get this pie out to the party?" Tilly smiled as she took it out a few minutes later.

"Yeah!" Sofia smiled, Amber and James nodding at her side.

"We should even sing that song we did in Melodious Meadow as we bring the pie out!" James added.

"What a whiz-bang idea!" Tilly grinned.

"What are we waiting for, then? Let's go!" Amber smiled as they went out to the party.