Disclaimers: I do not own PLL or the characters. I do own all OCs.
Spoilers: none
Rating: T
Notes: This is something I thought of for October being Pregnancy, Infant, & Child Loss Month. It is based on the poem Where do balloons go, Mommy, when you set them free?
Where do balloons go, Mommy, when you set them free?
Do they float into the clouds, or get stuck in a tree?
"No! My b'loon!" 2-year-old Rosie pouts as she watches the pink balloon float up higher and higher, towards the white-and-fluffy cloudy sky.
Spencer walks over, over-dramatically pouting as she sympathizes, "It's ok, Rose-petal. We have plenty more over here."
As she begins walking away, intent on giving the toddler a new balloon, lest she wants a tantrum on her hands, she hears a shout from her nephew.
"Look! It got stuck in that tree! I can climb up and get it down for her."
Conner, Melissa's oldest son, immediately sprints towards said tree. Spencer looks up, (she can hear Melissa yell Conner David, do not climb that tree!) and just as he said, the pink balloon has become stuck in a branch about halfway up.
"Oh, god, he's going to fall and break his neck," Mel mutters to her husband as Rosie cheers on her big cousin.
"Yay! My b'loon! My b'loon!"
Conner manages to get the balloon and then climb back down, safely, and as soon as his feet are planted on solid ground, he smirks in his parents' direction.
"What? I'm Tarzan, remember? I can climb the highest trees and swing from the smallest branches!"
Conner beats on his chest to imitate Tarzan, it makes the balloon flop around crazily which just gets Rosie to laugh and clap excitedly for her big cousin.
"Tank you, Tawzan!" She politely says as the balloon is back in her hands.
"Yes, thank you, Tarzan," Spencer quips as her nephew dramatically bows.
"You are very welcome, Jane."
Do they fly high in the sky, or get popped by a bee?
"We love you, Rosie!" Everyone choruses as the group finishes speaking of the little girl who meant so much to them.
Stories, pictures, videos, memories… all have been shared today. It is June 27, 2017. Exactly one year since Rosalie Montgomery-Hastings disappeared on a visit to the zoo, for her fifth birthday celebration.
The families hold a Balloon Release at the park in the memories of their little girl.
Conner is now a 15-year-old teenager.
Melissa, John, and their kids, Conner, Liam, and Maddie, were going to fly down on the weekend, and have a second birthday celebration with lots of presents and love for their little Rose-petal.
Too bad they lived all way in California, and so they could not be here for her birthday.
Today, he picked a pink balloon. In memory of the young girl who was his entire world.
Conner watches the balloon float up. He remembers that day clearly; poor Rosie was absolutely devastated when she accidentally let go of her pink balloon. Thankfully, it got stuck in a tree, and Conner climbed up and was to get it down.
This time, however, Conner simply watches as the balloon floats higher. It seems to touch the sky, weaving between fluffy clouds, and becoming a pinprick of color among the purples and pinks and whites of the other balloons that family members released.
"Fly high, babygirl," He whispers. "I hope you enjoy your 'b'loon'."
Do they soar with the birds and the bugs in the air?
"Wook!" 3-year-old Scottie points to the navy blue balloon. "It's fying wif the bugs! Wook, Mommy, Mamma!"
Sure enough, the balloon has a dozen fireflies surrounding it. Little dots of light dance around it as the breeze blows it across the yard.
"Fy high, b'loon!"
It's June 27, 2018. 2 years past, and another year of milestones the families will never celebrate with their little girl.
Thankfully, Scottie knows of Rosie through stories, pictures, and those oh, so cherished home videos.
Conner holds his youngest cousin as he releases his own balloon, — pink, as always — and the two watch as it joins its navy blue companion for a race against the nighttime flying critters.
Or stay close to the ground and get chased by a bear?
"Quick! We have to save it from the bears!" 4-year-old Rosie exclaims as she thrusts the sword into the air.
It is their first time visiting John, Mel, and their kids in California. Unfortunately, it will be the only time Rosie is able to come.
They have balloons because of course they are a hit with kids of all ages. Reds, oranges, yellows, greens, light blues, navy blues, purples, and pinks float up in the sky and bounce around the backyard as the children run rampant.
This time a group of yellow and orange balloons have blown towards the woods bordering the backyard. And as Rosie fully beloved the stories her cousins concoct about bears living in there, it fuels her imaginative playtime.
"Ok, Princess Rosie." 13-year-old Connor agrees. "Let's gather the troops, and head out!"
He quickly glances around — his brother, 11-year-old Liam, and sister, 8-year-old Maddie — run up with their own makeshift swords. They are seasoned fighters when it comes to battling the Wood Bears.
"Me too, me too!" They turn to see their littlest fighter, John's niece, 2-year-old Kaylee, running toward them.
"Ok, Kaylee. You can come, too." Conner breaks off part of the handle of his sword so that it is short enough for Kaylee to hold. "Here you go, Princess Kaylee."
Conner gets a different sword, then glances around, nods once, and declares, "Move put out, Soldiers!"
Does the wind blow them out over the big blue ocean?
They are celebrating Rosie's favorite holiday — Fourth of July — at the beach this year.
It's now July 4th, 2018. It has been two years and 1 week since her disappearance.
Scottie is 3 years old, and Liam just celebrated his own birthday. 14 years old, an eighth grader come August.
The ocean is beautiful out here in California. Clear skies, sun shining, the smell of saltwater and sand…
Everything Rosie loved about the beach.
The families allow the kids to run free – granted they stay close enough to be seen. They have also given each one a balloon; it's something the little ones have come to associate with Rosie.
"I'm gonna get you!" Liam calls out to Kaylee. She is now 4 years old and screeches in delight as she runs from her older cousin.
"No you're not!"
Liam grabs her by the waist, spinning her in a circle.
"Oh, yes, I am!"
Amidst her shrieks and giggles, Kaylee accidentally lets go of her balloon.
"Noo! My balloon! Liam!" The teenager stops, and watches the purple balloon get blown over the ocean waves.
"Aw, man, Kay. I'm sorry. Let's go get a different, ok? I think there is another purple one over here." Liam carries Kaylee back to the grownups where she receives another balloon.
They are warned not to let go of anymore balloons, as they do not need to fall into the ocean when they pop.
Or do they climb up and over small hills and big mountains?
"Look, it's going over the mountains!"
Everyone stops and stares in the direction Maddie is pointing. The kids have continued playing with the balloons, even after they fought off the Wood Bears.
This time, they released a balloon and it floated in the opposite direction of the woods. There are hills and a giant mountain that can be seen from the backyard — granted in the very, very long distance — and now, the kids are convinced the balloon will make it all the way.
The grownups share a look.
"Should we tell them?" Spencer asks.
"Nope." Aria shakes her head. "Just let them have their fun."
Meanwhile, John goes inside to grabs some kid binoculars.
"Hey, guys! Here you go." He hands them out and they cheer and point and yell, watching as the balloon gets further and further away.
"Look, it went over that hill!"
"And now it's going over that bigger one!"
"Look, look! It almost got hit by that car!"
Melissa adjusts on the lawn chair where she is tanning in the warm summer sun, smiling at her children's excitement and happiness.
"Oh, yeah. Definitely let them have their run."
Do they go in space and circle the clouds? And do they fall back down to Earth after travelling so far?
"Up, up, and away!"
It is now July 27, 2020. 4 years since Rosie disappeared, and 1 year since her body was found, finally giving her family the closure they so desperately needed.
She would be 9 years old now.
Conner is 18, now, and starts college in August. Liam is 16 and starting his tenth grade year while Maddie is now a teenager at 13, and going into seventh grade. She has the last bit of childlike wonder that her brothers have long outgrown.
Scottie is five years old; the same age as Rosie was, and will forever be.
The families are doing another Balloon Release, once again in California at Melissa and John's house.
The balloons soar up into the sky.
"It'll touch the clouds!" Maddie yells.
"No, the Outer Space!"
"Yeah, Outer Space!"
Conner and Liam look at each other. Of course, they know the balloons will pop long before they get even to the clouds let alone actually space, but it is fun to let them believe, isn't it?
Liam turn to his little sister and cousins, smiling as they talk about what planets the balloons will visit before they fall back down to Earth.
"I hope it goes to Mars!" 5-year-old Scottie shouts.
"Yeah, and Jupiter!" Kaylee, now 7 years old, inputs.
The kids lay in the backyard's plush, green grass, and point out the individual balloons while the adults enjoy the summer air long into the evening.
Or does God collect them in a big bouquet and give them to children in Heaven each day?
Where do balloons go, Mommy, when you set them free?
I hope they go to Heaven as a gift for ME!
"Look! A pink b'loon! My favorite color!"
And there we go. i have a couple more in mind so I will most likely post several more times this month.
In Memory of my cousin, Woodrow Conner. He was born sleeping on July 17, 2017, and would be four years old this year. Between July of 2017 and May of 2019, Conner was joined in Heaven by four brothers and sisters.
Then, in February 2020, my cousin (Conner's parents) were blessed with their Rainbow Baby, Richard Oakley. Oakley is 20 months old, and so, so smart. He loves to give hi-gives and fists bumps, and is a complete and total Mama's Boy who looks just like his daddy.
We love you, Conner. I hope you enjoy the balloons in Heaven.