Eleven: First date
Plot: With the revealing of the gender of her twins coming closer then she thought, Nell ends up nervous with the thoughts of motherhood and being a teenager while experiencing her first kiss.
"Babies really in there?" Madeline asked, touching her sister's baby bump as Sabrina crawled in between them.
"Yes. They're really in there," Nell grinned, musing their hair.
"Then why don't they do something?" Sabrina frowned.
"Because it's not time yet Baby Girl," Lydia smiled, coming into the room. "It's only been a few weeks. When Nellie gets bigger, they'll move."
"Nell will be a cow?" Madeline grinned.
"Don't let Bobby Lee hear you say that," Nell muttered. "I had enough of his teasing when we were children to last me a few lifetimes!"
"I did hear what she said, Helen, but don't worry," Bobby Lee said as he came in. "You know I'm going to stay right by your side through this whole thing. And I really am sorry for teasing you."
"I know," Nell smiled. "You made it up to me when we went on that fishing trip. But you don't think I'm a cow, do you?"
"Well, you can be a little bossy, but other than that-" Bobby Lee grinned, ducking as Nell tried to swat him.
"Careful. The cow was sick this morning," Madeline smiled innocently.
"Mommy had Nell by her hair again," Sabrina frowned. "And Maddie Nell is not a cow! Babies had her sick again!"
"We'll all help take care of her," Bobby Lee promised.
"That's good to hear," Lydia smiled as she came in to check on them, "And Nellie, I know exactly how you're feeling. When I was pregnant with your sisters, I felt the exact same way you do now. But your father was there to help me whenever I needed him."
"Except you were married," Nell sighed, looking at her stomach.
"Nell sad?" Madeline frowned. "You can't be sad! You're gonna be a mommy!"
"I can't help it," Nell started to tear up. "It's all my fault that this is happening! If Jimmy hadn't-"
Lydia cut her off. "We know, Nellie. If Jimmy hadn't kidnapped you and your sisters, none of this would have ever happened. But at least that monster and his sons are out of our lives forever. And the best part is, they'll never know him."
"I know, Mama, but-" Nell was cut off by Lydia taking her in her arms, stroking her hair, and singing the old lullaby she used to sing to her, Madeline, and Sabrina.
"Don't think about it anymore," Lydia murmured as she began to rock her. "Everything's going to be all right."
"And if case you two forget she's fourteen. Do you think any other girl her age is dealing with morning sickness?" Bobby Lee asked Sabrina and Madeline softly.
"No," Sabrina frowned. "But you're going to be a daddy."
"A young one," Bobby Lee sighed, shaking his head. "But I love your sister too much just to not be with her through this. We'll be finding out if it's boys or girls soon. But we want to be our age too."
"We know," Lydia smiled sympathetically, reaching her hand toward him. "But we'll all get through this together."
Nell and Bobby Lee looked at each other with doubtful looks. Being teenage parents horrified them both in many ways.
Bobby Lee especially who tried to block out the guys in his age division teasing him about being on Daddy duty before he was ready.
"You okay?" Nell asked softly, noticing his thoughtful expression. "I planned a little something for us tonight. Mama and Papa gave me permission. They want us to have a good time."
"What is it?" Bobby Lee asked.
"Can we come too, Nell?" Sabrina asked.
"Yeah! Can we?" Madeline asked.
"Not this time, girls," Nell smiled as she pulled them into a hug, "This is for Bobby Lee and I. But maybe tomorrow the three of us can have a girls' day out."
"Okay," Sabrina sighed, hugging Nell's stomach. "Be good Babies."
"Yeah. You're our nieces," Madeline smiled. "Elsa and Anna."
"Oh no! Not after your storybook!" Nell smirked, covering them with kisses.
"Okay, how about Ariel and Aurora?" Sabrina smiled. "Or Cindy and Ella?"
"Not after your storybooks!" Nell grinned. "But don't worry, girls, there's lots of time to think of a name!"
"What about princes' names if they're boys?" Bobby Lee asked. "You've got Eric, Phillip-"
"Not after their storybooks!" Nell grinned.
"Eric O'Malley wouldn't work out anyway," Lydia smirked, ruffling Nell's hair. "But Bianca and I were talking this morning and she had a name ready in case it's girls."
"What is it?" Sabrina and Madeline asked excitedly.
"Gabby. I'm surprised it wasn't Mary or Genevieve," Lydia smiled.
"Genevieve is my middle name Mama," Nell reminded, touching her stomach. "I'm sure the babies will love whatever name I give them when they start kicking. I remember Madeline liking hers."
"Oh, yes," Lydia smirked at the memory. "I remember mentioning the name Madeline to your father, and somebody kicked so hard that I'm surprised she didn't jump out and hug me!"
"I'm sorry, Mommy," Madeline murmured.
"It's not your fault, sweetie," Lydia smiled, pulling her into a hug, "You were just giving me approval on your name!"
"We better go now," Sabrina smiled, looking towards the door.
"Why? What's the rush?" Lydia smiled, musing her hair.
"Nell and Bobby Lee have to fall in love like in our storybooks," Madeline smiled. "Maybe even get married!"
"One thing at a time, girls!" Nell smirked. "Bobby Lee and I will get married, but only when we're ready!"
"I think we're ready right now," Bobby Lee grinned, "Who needs all the fancy wedding preparations, let's elope!"
"We can't elope!" Nell protested.
"Oh, honey, do!" Bobby Lee grinned.
"Nellie's right; you can't elope," Lydia smiled.
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melon head?" Bobby Lee smirked over Madeline and Sabrina's giggles.
Lydia also couldn't help but laugh. "And this is what we get for having him and Prince James play word games together!"
"It gets him something to do other than mope about the guys," Nell smirked.
"Can we make you pretty Nell?" Sabrina begged.
"Please?" Madeline begged, looking around the room. "With your lip-stitch and shadowy stuff?"
"Not until you're a little older, girls," Lydia smiled. "You two used to play with my makeup when you were younger, but Sabrina had a mild reaction to a powder. She got over it and I got rid of the powder, but I decided you wouldn't use makeup until you're a little older."
Nell nodded. She remembered seeing Sabrina's skin turn red when she put the powder on. She washed it off and spent part of the night with her, and a few days later, she was back to normal. "Better safe than sorry, Maddie," she added, seeing Madeline start to pout, "We know you didn't have a reaction to it, but we just want to be careful for now. But maybe in a year or two we can experiment with something."
"Okay," Madeline sighed.
"But you can still do my hair for tonight," Nell smiled.
"Where are you going to?" Sabrina frowned.
"Just a little something between friends," Lydia answered with a smile.
"Will you tell us about it?" Sabrina asked.
"Some parts I will tell you, but other parts will have to wait until you're a little older," Nell smiled.
"No fair!" Madeline pouted.
"Hey you already know where babies come from. I don't want you two to know about how teenagers date," Nell smirked.
"Good point," Sabrina admitted.
"I guess so," Madeline admitted.
"Maybe while they're gone, you can help me come up with a word game Prince James hasn't played yet," Lydia suggested. "The three of us can make up some games for him, and we can challenge him. Or you can play dress-up with Princess Amber or play with Princess Sofia and her cute little bunny."
Madeline and Sabrina smiled. All of those ideas sounded like fun, and they knew how much their mother loved rabbits. "Okay!" they agreed.
"Thank you Mama. It'll ease my worries to know that they'll have fun while their big sister goes on a date," Nell smiled softly. "If I'm lucky, I might have my first kiss."
"Yucky!" Madeline complained, holding her nose.
"Now Maddie it's not yucky. Girls like Nellie usually get a first kiss by this time," Lydia smiled softly. "She's only gotten pecks on the lips."
"I think Sabrina might tell us about her first kiss too," Nell smiled. "Wasn't there that little boy in the village who you were playing with when you were younger, and he took your hand and kissed it when it was time to go home?"
"I forgot about that!" Sabrina gasped. "I don't even remember his name!"
"I forgot his name too, but I remember how you looked," Nell smiled. "You held the hand he kissed out to me and you said you felt just like a princess."
"Where was I?" Madeline asked.
"You had a cold, so Mama and Bianca took care of you," Nell smiled. "But you were so excited when we told you about the boy!"
"But that was before the monsters came," Sabrina frowned.
"I know who you mean," Nell smiled sympathetically. "But it's not time to be sad. It's time for—"
"Giving Nell piggy tails!" Madeline giggled, getting some of Nell's hair ribbons.
"I think she's a bit grown up for those honey," Lydia smiled. "Maybe a little bit of jewelry and that dress Bianca got her."
Madeline and Sabrina smiled as they remembered the floral print dress Bianca had given Nell during their first night in the castle. The girls had told Bianca that they wanted dresses just like it, and Florence had made them each a smaller version of it a few days later.
Nell also smiled as she took out a brass antique locket. She remembered when Lydia had given it to her, and she smiled as she fastened it around her neck. She had told her that she'd only wear this for special occasions, and this definitely counted as a special occasion.
It was her first time since coming home that she got anything to herself. She didn't mind helping her sisters day by day while she still could but Lydia and Edward had often said that she was a growing teenager and needed to do her own things.
Even if she wasn't sure about them.
"Everything's going to be fine," Lydia assured her as she helped fix her hair. "You and Bobby Lee will have a wonderful time tonight."
Edward and Bobby Lee came in a few minutes later. "I think I have to call Heaven; there's an angel missing," Edward smiled, looking Nell over.
"Oh, Edward," Lydia smirked.
"Papa! I just have my hair down and I'm wearing the dress that Bianca gave me!" Nell blushed a little.
"And your mother's necklace. Remember when she gave it to you?" Edward asked, covering her in kisses.
"Oh, yes. I never took it off except at night, when I took a bath," Nell paused, "And when Jimmy kidnapped me. I wanted you to find it so much..."
"We did find it when we started looking for you," Edward murmured. "We also found all the beads that Madeline and Sabrina dropped."
"It was wise of you to leave clues and a trail," Lydia agreed. "We followed the clues as long as we could, until we ran out of beads."
"But at least you never have to worry about that again," Bobby Lee assured them. "You're all back safe and sound, and except for when you need to go to the bathroom or change your clothes, I'm never letting you out of my sight again!"
"Come on we better go," Nell smirked. "Cedric gave me a nausea free portion earlier and I'm hoping it lasts the night."
"That's right. You wouldn't want morning sickness during your date," Lydia smiled, musing her hair.
"That would not be nice," Bobby Lee smirked. "But when we go out to eat, I'll make sure she takes it easy on the food and doesn't eat anything that disagrees with her."
"Good idea," Nell murmured. "And we'll take it easy if we go dancing too."
"Tell us everything?" Madeline asked.
"But keep it child friendly!" Edward smirked.
Sabrina and Madeline giggled at his words before giving Nell a hug.
"I'll miss you both too," Nell smiled, letting them go. "But I want you two to be big girls and listen to Mama and Papa."
"That includes no running off from bath time Madeline," Bobby Lee smirked, musing her hair.
"I'll guard the door, but I'll hold her to the promise that she won't run off," Edward assured him.
"I'll be good!" Madeline promised. "I want to hear about everything you do!"
Nell and Bobby Lee laughed before walking out the door as Nell found herself smirking.
Madeline sometimes had trouble keeping her promise so she wouldn't be surprised if her little sister had broken it sometime during the night.
"Well, what would you like to do first?" Bobby Lee asked as he helped her into the wagon.
"Maybe get something to eat?" Nell suggested.
"Good idea," Bobby Lee smiled. "You want to keep your strength up for everything I've got planned."
"Everything you got planned?" Nell teased playfully. "I asked Mama and Papa for permission."
"Well I suggested this night to them," Bobby Lee smirked.
"You did?" Nell asked in surprise. "But with the babies and everything that's happened... I've heard some of the guys talking about you."
"Like Miranda always says, if people don't understand what happened to you, that's their problem," Bobby Lee said firmly. "I told the guys about what happened, and they understood that it wasn't your fault. They know I'm going to help raise the babies, and they're really supportive."
"That's good to know," Nell murmured.
"You don't want to know what it's like when they argue over whether it's boys or girls," Bobby Lee smirked playfully.
"I bet amusing," Nell smiled, laying her head on his shoulder.
She hated to admit it but being with him at that moment made her nervous. She was getting used to men that were kind again, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night in hopes that she wasn't dreaming.
She did know that there were a few people like that in the castle. She could always go to Roland if she had a problem and Edward wasn't around. Baileywick was like a kindly uncle to her, Madeline, and Sabrina. She could always count on Cedric to give her a calming potion if she had nightmares. James was like a younger brother to her, and he was always there with a song to help calm her down, or a word game if she wanted to play something. And most importantly, just like Bobby Lee, Edward hadn't left her side since her rescue.
Bobby Lee saw how nervous she was looking, and he reached across the table to squeeze her hand. "It's going to be all right, Helen," he murmured, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"Thank you," Nell murmured.
"You're welcome. It's just us two. No little sisters and no adults," Bobby Lee reminded her with a smile.
"And no acting like royalty," Nell smirked playfully. "I love the castle but everything is just too fancy for me. I'm having babies, I don't need a corset on my growing stomach."
"I think Miranda and Roland heard about that argument," Bobby Lee smirked."And Mother too."
"At least Florence said that I shouldn't wear a corset until after the babies are born," Nell half joked, "But at least Miranda agreed with us."
"Let's not worry about that now," Bobby Lee assured her as the waiter came, "Let's focus on the future with our children."
"That's right," Nell murmured, "I think Mama said the results came today."
"Yes she did," Bobby Lee smiled. "But whether they're girls or boys, I'll love them, and they'll only know me as their daddy."
"They will," Nell smiled. "If it is girls, Sabrina and Madeline will have someone to play with."
"And will force them to play dress up if they're boys," Bobby Lee smirked.
"I see you two are excited to be parents aren't you?" The waiter asked playfully. "You're young I can see that but I wish you luck."
"Thank you, sir," Bobby Lee smiled.
"Yes, thank you, sir," Nell echoed.
"See?" Bobby Lee whispered when the waiter left after their orders were taken, "You've got people here who support you too."
When their food came, the waiter even surprised them by giving them each a free dessert.
"Well, after this, what are we doing next?" Nell asked as they finished their strawberry cheesecake.
"Why don't I surprise you?" Bobby Lee suggested, wiping off some strawberry from her face.
"Hey! Stop that!" Nell whined, trying to swat his hand away.
"You're acting like your sisters," Bobby Lee teased.
"I can clean myself up, thank you," Nell giggled. "But what else do you have in mind?"
"We did talk about dancing," Bobby Lee smiled as he paid for the meal and they went back out to the wagon. "And lucky for us, there's a dance in town tonight."
"That sounds wonderful, but you know I can't do a whole lot of dancing," Nell sighed.
"We'll only stay for as long as you want," Bobby Lee promised as they drove off.
Nell smiled softly at the offer, gently touching her stomach. The nausea potion seemed to be working just as Cedric told her that it would.
He also told her not to use it regularly as she was still growing and wasn't sure how pregnancy and teenage hormones would react when mixed together.
Still Nell was thankful that she hadn't need a rush to the ladies room or ruined Bobby Lee's shoes during their date.
"You look lost in thought," Bobby Lee smiled, gently taking her hand as they stepped out of the wagon. "What's on your mind?"
"I'm just worried about everything," Nell admitted. "I know I have everyone in the castle supporting me, along with you and my family, but I'm terrified. I've never been a parent before. I don't know what to do!"
Bobby Lee gripped her hands tightly. "Helen, I've seen you take care of Madeline and Sabrina when they got sick. You took care of your house when Lydia had the flu. You took care of Madeline and Sabrina when you were Jimmy's prisoners. And I have to admit, they had some good ideas for dealing with injuries. I never knew the cure for cigarette burns before...not that I ever smoked, or will smoke, or got burned by one..."
"And I couldn't ask for a better father for these babies inside me," Nell smiled.
"And whether they're boys or girls, I'll love them no matter what," Bobby Lee smiled as he kissed her forehead.
Nell smiled in relief at his words, allowing Bobby Lee to lead her into a dance.
Yet she bit her lip as she glanced at the people around them.
"It's our first dance together. We'll be fine," Nell assured herself, "It's just a small first date idea. Nothing more."
"For some of them, it's their first dance too," Bobby Lee assured her. "They look nervous, but they're going to be fine, just like you."
After a few dances, Nell decided she was ready to go, so after Bobby Lee got her some punch and a few cookies, and a snack for himself, he led her back to the wagon.
"You were wonderful, Helen," he said as they drove off again.
"So were you," Nell smiled. "Nobody even noticed us, or how big I was."
"That's how it is with dancing," Bobby Lee smiled. "When the music starts, and you're with the love of your life, it's like you're the only two people in the world."
"You look like the girls when they really want something," Nell smirked playfully.
"How can you tell?" Bobby Lee wondered in surprise.
"You've been focusing on my face," Nell smiled, shyly looking away. "Like you want to give me our first kiss."
"I do, but if you want me to wait, I'll wait," Bobby Lee smiled. "I know I kissed your forehead earlier, but that was just to give you comfort when you were feeling uneasy."
"And I appreciate it," Nell smiled. "I know we'll have our first kiss when we're ready."
Yet she couldn't wait patiently any longer. Blaming her hormones and as the wagon stopped near the castle steps, dragged Bobby Lee by the hand.
"What's gotten into you?" Bobby Lee teased, stroking her hair.
"I know you said that you'll wait to have our first kiss but I can't wait anymore," Nell smiled, trying to hold back a blush.
"Helen, I don't blame you," Bobby Lee smiled. "But maybe we'll wait just a few more minutes to have our first kiss."
Nell was about to ask why, when she saw Florence, Bianca, Lydia, and Edward waiting for them. "What are all of you doing here?" she asked. "I didn't want an audience, and you didn't have to wait up for us."
"It's nothing like that, Helenita," Edward smiled. "I just wanted to be the first to tell you that the test results came while you two were gone."
"You mean, we get to find out what I'm having?" Nell gasped. "I was so busy thinking about our date that I forgot all about it!"
"That's what ypur mother did when she was pregnant with you," Bianca smiled softly, stroking her hair. "Helen Genevieve, we haven't even told the girls the news yet."
"You wanted to wait until I got back?" Nell grinned.
"Well you are a mommy to two little girls now," Lydia grinned, unable to hold on to the excitement any longer.
"Girls? I'm having girls?" Nell gasped.
"Yes," Edward smiled, "I wanted to do this when I broke the news, but since your mother broke it instead, I'm still going to do it!" He took Nell in his arms and gently danced her around as he sang, "Thank Heaven for little girls!"
"Oh, Papa," Nell smiled. "Are you sure James didn't see that first and tell you, then encouraged you to sing that?"
"No, Edward came up with this all by himself," Bianca smiled.
"Helen, I'm so proud of you!" Bobby Lee smiled as he took her in his arms.
Nell blushed softly as thoughts started to float around in her head.
Motherhood. Being a teenager. It almost made her sick.
And a little nervous as she felt Bobby Lee's lips against hers.
Their first kiss.
She smiled, thankful that Sabrina and Madeline weren't seeing the what Nell wished to be a private moment between them.
"I love you so much right now," Bobby Lee murmured as they broke apart, "We'll raise these little girls right. They'll never know Jimmy; all they'll need to know is that I'm their daddy, and I'll love them forever."
"We'll help you too, Nellie," Lydia smiled. "We'll all make sure these little girls grow up safe, loved, and respected."
"Honey are you alright?" Edward asked gently, seeing his Helenita in tears.
"I just thought I was going through this alone," Nell sniffed. "Tonight's been wonderful. I don't want to ruin it by being negative."
"You're not ruining anything," Lydia murmured, taking her in her arms, "We're all going to be right by your side, every step of the way."
"Thank you," Nell smiled. "Now should we go in and tell Madeline and Sabrina the good news?"
"Yes, and before you ask, they took their baths without any trouble," Edward smiled. "Madeline didn't run off since we told her you'd tell her and Sabrina everything."
"That's good, and they're going to be so excited," Nell smiled. "We already know one girl's name, Gabby, but what about the other one?"
"Don't worry, Nellie," Lydia smiled. "There's lots of time to figure out Gabby's sister's name."