Nine: Mother's Day
Plot: It's Mother's Day for all the mothers in Enchancia for those expecting, with small children, and grown children. Sabrina is just happy she can relax for the first time since Isabella was born while everyone around her celebrates in different ways.
"Careful. Mommy must not hear you," Ricky cooed, musing Isabella's hair.
"Mommy's still sleeping!" Edward assured the confused three month old with a chuckle.
"And Daddy can't?" Bobby Lee asked playfully as Isabella looked up at him.
"Helenita's been craving again?" Edward asked with a smirk.
"Yes. Chocolate," Bobby Lee sighed, shaking his head. "Been up since four this morning."
"Well, chocolate's good for whatever ails you," Edward smiled.
"It's a major food group!" Ricky grinned.
"That's true, champ, but we all need to be quiet while we get it for her," Bobby Lee grinned.
"But I could be getting a sister," Ricky smiled as Isabella tried to eat his hand.
"Well Mommy did eat strawberries and peaches for Elena and Gabby and honey dew for Clara," Bobby Lee smirked at the memory. "So you might be right."
"You're sneaking around like you're going to get in trouble. Are you trying to give Mommy and Nell gifts in bed?" Madeline asked, seeing the three men in her life shrug as Howitzer came up behind her.
"They aren't thinking ahead for their sunshines," Howitzer smirked, taking Isabella from Ricky's arms. "I gave mine the day off from our Isa."
"You want to help us get something for Mommy, Aunt Madeline?" Ricky asked.
"That's a great idea, Ricky!" Madeline smiled.
"We could cover strawberries, peaches and honey dews in chocolate!" Gabby suggested with a giggle. "Elena's with Mom so I came to see what was going on."
"That's a good idea Gabby," Howitzer grinned, bouncing Isabella in his arms as she giggled happily.
"Hopefully Sabrina is enjoying herself," Madeline smirked, playfully bopping her brother in law's nose. "Because you're on Daddy duty today."
"Good! I can spend as much time as I want with my little snuggle bug!" Howitzer grinned, nuzzling her stuffed jaquin Midnight against her.
Isabella squealed happily as she felt her kitty against her. She reached out for her, but Ricky caught her first.
"Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me," he sang as he flew Midnight around, "Let the Midnight Special shine its ever-lovin' light on me!"
"You spend too much time with James!" Bobby Lee grinned as he mussed his hair.
"Well, we wondered what songs we could sing about Midnight," Ricky grinned as he watched Isabella bouncing in time to the song with Midnight's paw in her mouth.
"Okay enough fooling around! Let's get Helenita's gift ready before she wakes up!" Edward chuckled, having Ricky give Isabella back to her daddy.
"And don't eat any of it," Madeline smirked, joining Howitzer who wanted to check on his wife. "I would imagine that Mommy and Miss Florence are up by now. They're always on the go!"
"We sample the candy because we just want to make sure it's okay for Mommy!" Ricky grinned.
"Oh, so that's what you call it now?" Madeline smirked. She looked up when she heard footsteps. "Quick! Go before they see you!"
"I'll hold Mommy and Grand Mommy off!" Gabby volunteered.
"Hold them off from what?" Elena asked, looking curious at her sister.
"False alarm! It's just Elena!" Gabby yelled, having Ricky peek from his hiding place.
"What are you doing here sis?" Ricky asked in surprise. "Isn't Mommy supposed to be guarded at all times?"
"Grand Mommy's with her. I just wanted to get something to eat," Elena replied. "What's going on here?"
"We're getting Helenita some chocolate," Edward smiled.
"Oh yes," Elena murmured, "Mommy does have a craving for chocolate now!"
"We're going to bring up some fruit for her as well, that's dipped in chocolate," Bobby Lee added.
"That sounds good!" Elena smiled. "I want to try some too!"
"We'll make sure Helen doesn't eat it all, Love Bug," Bobby Lee assured her. "We'll try some of it too."
"You go do that. Isa wants to see her mommy," Howitzer said as Madeline smirked.
"Isn't it more of you then her that wants to see Aunt Sabrina?" Madeline asked, seeing Isabella happily drool on Midnight's paw.
"I just want to see how she's enjoying her first Mother's Day. Is that a bad thing?" Howitzer asked with a playful pout.
"Of course not," Bobby Lee smiled. "When Nell and I had our first Mothers' Day with Elena and Gabby, we didn't know what to do, so we spent the day with the girls. Then when they were older, they saw me giving Helen flowers one year, and we gave her little gifts together ever since."
"What about with me?" Ricky asked.
"Well, when you came along, Ricky, we had parenting down," Bobby Lee recalled. "Elena put your little hands in paint and put them on a plate. Gabby and I wrote your name on it, and that was our gift for her that year."
"And Mom still has it," Elena smirked, dripping a strawberry into some melted chocolate. "As she does all our gifts."
Isabella cooed softly before holding back a whimper. All the mommy talk made her miss hers.
"You want to do something special for Aunt Sabrina too, Isa?" Elena asked.
"We can help Isa do something for her first Mother's Day," Gabby added.
"Okay," Bobby Lee agreed, "You two watch Isa and help her make something for Sabrina, and Edward, Howitzer, Ricky, and I'll go get something for Helen, Lydia, and Sabrina."
"Come on. Let's go see Aunt Sabrina for a little bit," Elena cooed, taking Isabella in her arms.
"Before Isa thinks you're food?" Gabby smirked, seeing Isabella drool on Elena's blouse.
"Isa does know sweet things when she sees them!" Elena giggled.
"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that," Ricky smirked as they went out to get the chocolate, and some other Mothers' Day surprises.
"He doesn't know what," Elena began with a smirk.
"He's talking about!" Gabby finished, making Isabella giggle.
They had been twinning since the age of six thanks to their aunts as Isabella started to fuss.
"She's probably hungry," Elena cooed softly, undoing the top buttons of her blouse. "I've seen Aunt Sabrina nurse a few times so I know what I'm doing."
"Here Ellie, let me help with keeping her steady," Gabby offered with a smile.
"Elena! What are you doing?" Bobby Lee gasped when he came in and saw what Elena was trying to do.
"Trying to feed Isa," Elena explained.
"Elena, sweetheart, why don't you use this instead?" Bobby Lee suggested, handing her a bottle. "And promise me you won't do that again, or at least until you have kids yourself!"
"Don't look, Daddy!" Ricky smirked.
"Daddy! We'll be fine!" Gabby smirked, pushing Bobby Lee and Ricky out the door. "Go get something for Mom before today's over."
"Thanks Gab. I just never thought Dad would freak out like he did," Elena admitted as Isabella tried to hold on to the bottle. "Mommy did it with us and he was perfectly fine."
When Bobby Lee, Edward, Howitzer, and Ricky were in the wagon, and Edward shook the reins, Bobby Lee turned to Ricky with a smirk. "'Don't look, Daddy?' You know what I do when someone uses that against me!"
"I've got him, Robert!" Howitzer grinned, grabbing Ricky from behind.
"Grandpa! Help!" Ricky yelped, squirming under Howitzer and Bobby Lee.
"Children! Don't make me turn this wagon around!" Edward smirked.
"He did it!" Bobby Lee yelled playfully, musing Ricky's hair.
"Daddy! I'm the child! Not you!" Ricky poured with crossed arms.
"Didn't you say you lost the title of baby of the family when Isabella was born?" Bobby Lee asked.
Edward rolled his eyes as the wagon stopped. "Let's just find something for Helenita, Lydia, and Sabrina. And let's keep the noise to a dull roar, okay?"
"Okay," Bobby Lee, Ricky, and Howitzer agreed.
"And you can roughhouse as much as you want after we give them their presents," Edward continued.
"Okay," Bobby Lee, Ricky, and Howitzer agreed.
While Edward had to deal with two grown men and a teenager, Sabrina looked up from her book as she heard Isabella giggling.
"Isa? What are you doing here?" Sabrina grinned, seeing her daughter close to Elena's chest.
"Isa got hungry," Elena said as Isabella reached out for her. "I wanted to feed her."
"Thanks, Elena, but I'll take it from here," Sabrina smiled, taking Isabella in her arms. "Is my Isabella Madeline hungry?"
Isabella squealed, cooing happily as Sabrina started to feed her.
"Dad got mad with me for doing it," Elena grumbled, crossing her arms.
"That's because you can't do this sort of feeding until you have kids of your own," Sabrina smirked.
"Sorry, Aunt Sabrina," Elena muttered.
"Live and learn, Elena," Sabrina smiled, "I don't even think you thought of doing that when Ricky was born."
"I wanted to help you," Elena admitted.
"That's sweet, but leave this sort of feeding to me from now on," Sabrina suggested. "But why don't you help me change her when she's done eating?"
"Okay," Elena agreed.
"How has your first Mother's Day been Sabrina?" Nell smirked, coming into the room. "Any trouble at all?"
"Thankfully no," Sabrina smiled, musing her older sister's hair. "You look like you just got out of bed."
"She blames the baby for that," Lydia said, putting a hand on Nell's stomach.
"I just have a craving for chocolate!" Nell said as she looked around.
"I'll fix some hot chocolate," Lydia suggested, "That should feel good since we don't have any of the solid chocolate anymore."
"Thanks, Mama," Nell smiled as she sat down.
"You're Queen Elsa and Princess Anna doubled Mommy," Elena smirked, handing a full Isabella to her mother.
"Only with chocolate El," Sabrina mused, watching as Isabella grabbed her aunt's hair.
"And the songs!" Elena grinned, waving her hands like Elsa as she sang, "Let it go! Let it go!"
Isabella giggled as she watched Elena dancing around. She wanted to reach for her, but Sabrina spoke first.
"In a moment, my little snuggle bug," she said as she patted her back. "We don't want you to have an accident on Elena!"
"What your mommy means is to spit up on Elena," Nell smirked, tickling Isabella.
"I wonder how Grand Mommy is doing," Elena said, hearing Isabella giggle happily.
"She was sleeping when I woke up," Nell said as she sipped her hot chocolate. "I didn't want to bother her."
"You're lucky the rest of us were awake to help your craving, Nellie," Lydia smirked. "But we understand how you're feeling. I've had strange cravings myself."
"So did I," Sabrina recalled with a smile.
"Believe me I know," Elena smirked, taking Isabella in her arms and bouncing her up and down. "Who's having a happy Mother's Day with Mommy? You are! Yes you are!"
Isabella giggled. She didn't know what Mother's Day was, but if her mommy liked it, then it was important to her.
Elena smiled as she danced Isabella around the room. She also wondered how Ricky, Edward, Howitzer, and Bobby Lee were doing with their mission.
"How about this one?" Ricky asked as he held up a box of chocolate.
"Maybe," Bobby Lee said as he examined it. "Helen does like caramel, but she also likes white chocolate."
"And milk chocolate," Edward added.
"Mama used to tell me that dark chocolate's good for you," Howitzer said as he brought over another box. "I might get this one for Sabrina anyway, since it comes with a teddy bear that I can give to Isa!"
"Good idea," Ricky smiled, glancing over at the stuffed animals. "El used to pet all the stuffed animals when we were little."
"And tried to keep them," Bobby Lee remembered with a smirk.
"We did let her keep one or two, just so she could let Kitty have some 'company,'" Edward grinned.
"We should find something all the girls will like, as well as get something for Helen, Sabrina, and Lydia," Bobby Lee suggested.
"Individual gifts, and a group present?" Ricky echoed, "Great idea, Daddy!"
"As long as we pick things out before the day is over," Howitzer grinned, musing his hair. "I wouldn't want your mother waiting."
"Trust me. You wouldn't want her to wait," Bobby Lee recalled, bopping Ricky's nose. "I did when she was pregnant with you."
"But I thought you said good things come to those who wait," Ricky smirked.
"And telling that to your mother had me sleeping on the couch for a week!" Bobby Lee smirked. "Even your sisters weren't happy with me! If Mommy wasn't happy than they weren't happy."
"No they weren't," Edward smirked, dragging Bobby Lee and Ricky away from the stuffed animals.
As they shopped, Elena frowned slightly as Isabella had spit up on her blouse, having been a gift from Sofia.
"I'll be right back, then we're going to talk, Isa!" Elena frowned as she went up to change.
"Oh, like you never did the same thing at that age," Nell smirked as she had a third cup of hot chocolate. "You and Gabby used to spit up on me after a feeding, but then Bianca told me to put a towel over my shoulders when I burped you. And that worked! You spit up on the towel after another feeding, and I didn't have to change into yet another shirt!"
"Gabby did the same with someone once," Sabrina assured her. "Maddie and I took you to school when you were babies, and she spit up on a boy who tried to grab her!"
"Too bad that defense only works so much!" Nell couldn't help but smile. She'd been scared when she saw that the girls were missing, and she'd been angry at her sisters for what they did, but she understood why they'd done it. After all, she'd been excited when they were first born as well.
"Thankfully," Sabrina grinned, musing Nell's hair. "Gabby's been busy with Sof this morning."
"I bet learning how to be a protector," Nell grinned, proud of Gabby for her interest in adventure.
"We'll have several wonderful people protecting us," Sabrina smiled, knowing that James was training to be a knight, and Sofia and Gabby were Protectors.
"We will indeed," Lydia smiled.
"A knight, two protectors, and a future royal guard," Nell grinned, thinking of Ricky.
"Oops. Forgot about Ricky," Sabrina smirked, snuggling close with Isabella.
"She said several, didn't she?" Elena asked, "Ricky and Daddy also count as people who'll protect us!"
"You're right, Ellie!" Sabrina smiled. "But we do have a lot of people looking out for us!"
"And we look out for each other too!" Nell smiled.
"But now it's time for our talk Isa," Elena grinned, taking Isabella in her arms.
Isabella cooed softly, looking up at her cousin with wide eyes.
Elena wanted to scold Isabella for spitting up on her, but she couldn't stay mad at her. After all, she and Gabby had done the same thing with Nell when they were that little. "All is forgiven, Isa," she smiled, taking Midnight and nuzzling her against Isabella's cheek.
Isabella giggled happily as she felt her kitty kiss her. She bounced in Elena's arms as Elena carried her back to Sabrina.
"It's Mother's Day today; we don't want any bad feelings," Elena smiled as she gave Isabella to Sabrina.
"Good idea, Ellie!" Nell smirked, mussing her hair.
By the time Edward, Howitzer, Bobby Lee and Ricky had come back to the castle that evening, Isabella happily cooed in Gabby's arms as she listened to her adventure.
Gabby had her right leg in a sling as the result of a disaster of an adventure with Sofia hours before, careful enough not to move it with it being her bad leg.
"I'm sorry, Mommy," Gabby sighed, "Something like this always happens to me!"
"I know it was an accident, Gabby, but the important thing is that you're all right," Nell murmured, taking her in her arms. "But until you're back on your feet, there's going to be no adventures, and you're going to take it easy."
"Okay," Gabby sighed, smiling a little as Elena gave her her own jaquin, Lily. "I'm sorry I ruined Mothers' Day!"
"Gabby, sweetheart, you didn't ruin anything," Nell murmured, "Sofia told me that she was trying to help you when you said your leg was starting to hurt, and you both tripped and rolled down a hill. Luckily neither of you were hurt badly."
"Who got hurt?" Edward asked, sneaking Nell a kiss on her cheek.
"Me. Sorry Grandpa," Gabby apologized with a sigh. "I did something stupid."
"Oh? What was the adventure this time sis?" Ricky asked, giving Nell a hug.
"Falling down a hill after helping a pixie who got tangled in tree branches," Gabby admitted. "I sprained my ankle, and just my luck, it's my bad leg."
"Well, your mother's right, Gab-Gab," Bobby Lee spoke up, "Until you're all better, there will be no adventures for you."
"Okay," Gabby sighed, hugging Lily.
"And when you do go on adventures again, whether you like it or not, I'm coming with you," Ricky added. "Someone has to protect you and Sofia!"
"But for now we have gifts," Howitzer said, having Gabby be surprised.
"For the mommies in the room my Howie?" Sabrina asked with a smile. "Because you were gone awhile. Even Miss Florence is awake."
"Don't worry, we've got gifts for every mommy in the room," Howitzer smiled.
"That's right," Ricky smiled, handing Nell a large box. "Happy Mothers' Day, Mommy!"
"Chocolate!" Nell smiled. "Thank you, Ricky!"
"And what a sweet teddy bear," Sabrina smiled, handing the bear to Isabella. "I love my flowers-and-chocolate present too! Thank you, Howie!"
Isabella squealed, putting her gift in her mouth before Florence gently took it from her.
"Teddy bears are for cuddling, not eating," Florence grinned, musing her hair.
Isabella squealed in confusion as Bobby Lee took her up. "Isa, how would you like to help me give this next Mothers' Day gift?" He smiled as he held Isabella in one arm, and presented Florence with a bouquet of carnations. "Happy Mothers' Day, Mother!"
"You always know what to get me, Robert," Florence smiled.
"Well you've been working harder than usual lately because of our little one," Bobby Lee mused as he gently stroked Nell's stomach.
"I just don't want you two to suffer another loss," Florence admitted with a smile. "Besides Isa will be getting a friend in the upcoming months so I made her and the baby matching outfits."
"That's going to be so cute!" Nell smiled, "But I don't know if it's going to be a boy or a girl yet."
"I made a dress if it's a girl, and a little sweater if it's a boy," Florence assured her.
"If it's a girl, we better be careful," Lydia joked, musing Nell's hair. "They're double the trouble."
"Were we?" Elena wondered, getting a little confused as she was given a gift.
"Of course not," Nell smiled, "James and Amber have often said that good things come two at a time, and when you were born, they were right! Daddy and I were doubly blessed when we saw you!"
"But we know we're just having one baby this time," Bobby Lee added.
"You got them gifts too?" Lydia asked with a playful smirk. "It's Mother's Day not their birthday."
"Can't we spoil our granddaughters every once in awhile?" Edward mused, kissing her cheek.
"Yes we can! They deserve a little something too," Bobby Lee grinned.
"Dad! It's Mommy's day not ours!" Elena giggled, opening her gift.
"Nothing but the best for my girls," Bobby Lee smiled, pulling her into a hug, "And I mean all my girls!"
"A kitty necklace!" Elena smiled. "Thank you, Daddy!"
"And I got a unicorn necklace!" Gabby smiled. She was getting used to being around winged horses again, but she had always liked unicorns.
Isabella cooed happily with her teddy bear, putting its paw in her mouth as Howitzer kissed Sabrina on the check.
"So how did you enjoy Mother's Day?" Howitzer asked with a smile. "I'm sure you had a good time. Did Madeline do anything special for you?"
"I took Isa to the gardens," Madeline smiled. "She loves playing in the flowers as much as Elena and Gabby did when they were her age!"
"We'll have to make her a princess crown of her own now," Howitzer smiled.
"We can help make one for her!" Elena called, Gabby nodding at her side.
"Once Gabby can move around again on both legs you can," Nell smirked, hugging them close. "I love you two and Ricky so much."
"As I do with you Isa," Sabrina cooed as Isabella fussed, starting to get sleepy.
"And I love you, Lydia," Edward smiled, kissing Lydia's hand, then moving over to kiss Isabella's forehead.
"We love all our special ladies," Bobby Lee smiled, kissing Florence's hand.
"I better get this one up to bed," Howitzer suggested, taking a fussy Isabella in his arms. "Daddy's here. It's okay."
Isabella continued to fuss as Sabrina stood up, taking the infant from her husband's arms.
"I've got your new friend right here, Isa," Howitzer smiled, nuzzling the teddy bear against her. "Let's introduce her to her big sister Midnight!"
"Oh, Howie," Sabrina smiled.
"Yes, we'll introduce her to Howie and Sunset too!" Howitzer grinned. "Everyone loves meeting kitties, right, Isa?"
Isabella cooed softly, starting to fall asleep.
Sabrina smiled softly at her daughter, gently stroking her hair.
She knew that Mother's Day was only once a year but for it being her first, she enjoyed it very much.
At the same time, Elena and Gabby were hugging Nell and wishing her 'Happy Mothers Day' as well. "Thank you, girls, now let's get Gabby to bed and let her rest," Nell smiled.
"And you know you can hug Lily all you want when you're in bed," Elena added, "Kitties have been known to make everything better!"
"Thanks, Elena," Gabby smiled.